Current status, distribution and conservation of the Sri Lankan Hog Deer Hyelaphus porcinus (Zimmermann, 1780) (Cetartiodactyla: Cervidae).

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Published: Nov 26, 2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3263.6515-22
Keywords:
Distribution, Hog Deer, region and threats, southwestern Sri Lanka.

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Nilantha Vishvanath
Biodiversity Education And Research (BEAR), No 4, Dr. E.W. Adikaram Mawatha, Pitakotte, Sri Lanka Young Biologist’s Association, National Museum of Natural History, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Ranil P. Nanayakara
Biodiversity Education And Research (BEAR), No 4, Dr. E.W. Adikaram Mawatha, Pitakotte, Sri Lanka Department of Zoology,University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
H.M.J.C.B. Herath
Biodiversity Education And Research (BEAR), No 4, Dr. E.W. Adikaram Mawatha, Pitakotte, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The Hog Deer Hyelaphus porcinus (Zimmermann, 1780) is an endangered ungulate, which has a wide distribution in the Asian region. However, in Sri Lanka it is restricted to the southwestern coastal belt. A one year study conducted from March 2009 to March 2010 to know the status and distribution of this ruminant showed its expanded range of occurrence in the Island’s southwestern region when compared to its recorded range in 1992. It showed a further shifting trend onto the eastern and southern part of the Bentota River basin and the northern part of Gin Ganga river basin covering an area of occupancy of about 220km3. Direct field observations confirmed its regular presence in 23 sites, in patchily distributed cinnamon cultivations, paddy fields, fragmented shady wet forests and marshy areas of the river basins. Nine individuals were also recorded in captivity. The Hog Deer inhabiting or frequenting home gardens and agro-gardens as well as paddy fields face a multitude of threats as local people consider them a pest. It shows a decline in abundance when compared to that of last two decades mainly due to the illegal killing. The recently constructed southern highway also has a negative effect on this species by means of fragmenting populations. A long-term ecological study on Hog Deer in its current distributional limits covering population density, group structure and composition, food and behaviors is required to develop a conservation strategy.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 6 No. 12 (2014)
Section
Communications

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Author Biographies

Nilantha Vishvanath, Biodiversity Education And Research (BEAR), No 4, Dr. E.W. Adikaram Mawatha, Pitakotte, Sri Lanka Young Biologist’s Association, National Museum of Natural History, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha Colombo 7, Sri Lanka

Nilantha Vishvanath is a graduate in biotechnology from the University of Bangalore. He is an advisor to the Young Biologists’ Association of Sri Lanka.  He is also one of the founders of Biodiversity Education And Research (BEAR). He engaged in the field work, data gathering, analysis, composing the paper and organizing the awareness programs to conserve Hog Deer.

Ranil P. Nanayakara, Biodiversity Education And Research (BEAR), No 4, Dr. E.W. Adikaram Mawatha, Pitakotte, Sri Lanka Department of Zoology,University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Ranil P. Nanayakkara is a member of the expert reviewer committee for the IUCN Red List (Sri Lanka), of the Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment of Sri Lanka. He is the founder of BEAR (Biodiversity Education And Research) Sri Lanka. He engaged in the field work, data gathering, analysis, composing the paper and organizing the awareness programs to conserve Hog Deer.

H.M.J.C.B. Herath, Biodiversity Education And Research (BEAR), No 4, Dr. E.W. Adikaram Mawatha, Pitakotte, Sri Lanka

Jayampathi Herath is a student of post graduate Institute of Science (PGIS), University of Peradeniya and works as a lecturer in department of biology and ecology in South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine. He engaged in field work, data gathering, analysis, composing the paper and participate in the awareness programs to conserve Hog Deer.

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