Sagip Sarihay Series features critically endangered species in the Philippines, with weekly posts of alternating plant and animal species, and with the primary aims of awareness and call to action. This series is a project of the SciTech and the VA sections of UST-CSJ. (Note: Weekly order of posting does not reflect actual order of intensity of endangerment. Database reference for selection of species is the IUCN Red List.)

SAGIP SARIHAY #14

Species: Sus cebifrons (Visayan Warty Pig)

Words by Hans Daniel Tipace
Artwork by Jana Ellina Burgos

A visual representation of Visayan Warty Pig.

Description

Sus cebifrons is a Critically Endangered (CR) species of wild pig endemic to the west Visayan islands of the Philippines. It includes two subspecies, i.e. S. c. cebrifons from Cebu (extinct) and S. c. nigrinus from Negros and Panay. Small populations of the species can now only be observed in three out of the six original islands it was found. The Masbate population compared to the Negros and Panay populations is considered “functionally extinct” due to the extremely small number of individuals recorded since 1993. The species is dark grey to black in color with a whitish stripe crossing its nose bridge as well as relatively smaller facial warts compared to other warty pigs.

Locality

This species originally existed in six regions of the west Visayan Islands, i.e. Cebu, Guimaras, Masbate, Negros, Panay, and Ticao islands. Today, the species only exists in Masbate (“functionally extinct”), Negros, and Panay. Its natural habitat has changed from primary and secondary forests to lowlands.

Threats

The most irreversible threat to the species is genetic contamination through hybridization with feral and domestic pigs. Other causes include habitat destruction through unregulated logging, agricultural expansions, and over-hunting.

How can we help this endangered species?

The Visayan Warty Pig Conservation Programme (VWPCP) established by DENR and the Zoological Society of San Diego (ZSSD) implements activities related to conservation of the species, e.g. awareness campaigns and local capacity-building initiatives. These initiatives led to local and international conservation breeding programmes of the species, with hopes of reintroduction into their natural habitat in the future. Suggestions for other conservation actions are assessment of intra- and inter-population variations between surviving populations, strengthening efforts of local conservation reserves, and spreading awareness.

References

Meijaard, E., Oliver, W.R.T. & Leus, K. (2017). Sus cebifrons. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T21175A44139575. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T21175A44139575.en.

Oliver, W. L. R. (2004). First (and last?) breeding loan export of Visayan (Negros) warty pigs. Suiform Soundings 4(1): 25–27.

OLIVER, W. L. R. (2007). Threatened endemic artiodactyls of the Philippines: status and future priorities. International Zoo Yearbook, 32(1), 131–144. doi:10.1111/j.1748–1090.1993.tb03525.x