Global News - October 2007
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Very rare animal 'is genetically unique'
Fri 19 October 2007 14:00 UK — Asia,Other
News brought to you by International Animal Rescue, saving animals from suffering around the world.
A team of scientists has proved that a very rare pygmy hog from India belongs to a completely unique evolutionary line.
Researchers from the UK and India examined the DNA of the endangered pygmy hog of Assam - a species so rare that it was thought to be extinct for many years.
The team discovered that the creature is part of a completely unique genus.
One of the researchers, Dr John Fa, explained: "This is a very significant find and one which will definitely upgrade the importance of this pig for conservation."
Dr Stephan Funk added: "By sequencing the pygmy hog's DNA for the very first time we have been able to prove that the Victorians got it right and that the species represents a completely new branch of the evolutionary tree."
Just 150 pygmy hogs are thought to survive in the wild in the northern Indian state of Assam.
In the past, conservation efforts to save the creatures have struggled to attract funding, with public support typically focusing on more famous endangered creatures in the area, such as the Bengal tiger or Indian rhino.
Help IAR rescue and rehabilitate endangered wildlife.
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