Why in news
- Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve published its first scientific assessment documenting a distinct population of the Greater Hog Badger.
- Camera traps recorded significant presence and nocturnal behaviors of the vulnerable mammal across the reserve's floodplains.
What is the Greater Hog Badger?
- Scientific name: Arctonyx collaris, a mustelid mammal native to Southeast Asia and North-East India.
- Characterized by a pig-like snout used for rooting soil, powerful claws for digging, and omnivorous feeding habits.
Conservation Status & Distribution
- IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable.
- Protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2022).
- Inhabits tropical rainforests, grasslands, and alluvial floodplains across North-East Indian national parks.
Why it matters
- Highlights the ecological importance of Kaziranga's non-charismatic micro-fauna beyond rhinos and tigers.
- Camera trap technology helps baseline population metrics for subterranean and nocturnal forest species.
Key terms
Mustelidae
A diverse family of carnivorous mammals including badgers, otters, martens, and weasels.
Rooting Behavior
The act of using a elongated snout to dig and forage in the soil for roots, invertebrates, and tubers.
Prelims facts
- Greater Hog Badger is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of WPA 1972.
Source: Mongabay India