Andaman Last Day - The Andaman wild pig

Continued from here

16th Feb 2024

I was a bit sceptical about going into a "zoo" - I dont like zoos.

But this turned out to be like a botanical park, with lots of lovely large trees, high humidity and a wild pigs enclosure.

Andaman Wild Pigs from the enclosure.  Does it still get to be called wild pig?

Turns out that Chidiyatapu is the place where The protected Andaman wild pig gets a new lease on life with captive breeding programme.  The article mentions 8,000 wild pigs on the islands.

The pigs are an important food source for the Jarawa tribe.

"Andaman wild pigs are smaller in size with shorter limbs and a more compact body compared to mainland Indian pigs and what makes them unique is the higher oxygen carrying capacity of their blood.

Unlike domesticated pigs fed a controlled diet, Andaman wild pigs have a diverse diet consisting of fruits, nuts, roots, and invertebrates. This variety provides a broader range of amino acids, the building blocks of protein, potentially leading to a more complete protein profile in their meat.

Hunting the Andaman wild pig is culturally significant for the Jarawa, an indigenous tribe inhabiting parts of South Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands in India. Traditionally, a successful hunt of the wild pig signifies adulthood for a Jarawa man. These tribes are legally exempt from hunting restrictions imposed by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which otherwise attracts punishment of 7 years of imprisonment.

The enclosure provides a near-natural habitat for the species. Infants receive no specific external care. Generally, the female pig fed the young piglets which transitioned into normal diets as they grew.

The research paper also detailed the special attention given to diet so that the captive bred wild pigs maintain their natural protein values. The diet of captivity is diverse, including coconut, wheat bran, groundnut cake, jaggery, salt, tapioca, potato, and pumpkin, based on their nutritional needs. Leafy vegetables are added for nutrition, and water troughs are provided. The enclosure includes trees for shade, an open canopy area for sunlight, and soft soil for natural behaviours like uprooting and foraging. Deworming is also done every six months. "

There was a reptile corner with Salties as well.  Click here for more pictures...

It was 1030 by the time we exited the Park, and headed to the Chidiyatapu dive place - where we were to go snorkelling.  The sun was high, and rather bright.  The snorkelling instructors were from Kerala, bright and cheerful young lads, and some of us waded into the awaiting small motor boat in the cove, rounded the Munda Pahar beach, and went to the side of the islands where the coral reef was closer to the shore, and put anchor.

We we were told that the Crocs prefer the mangroves and were not in these waters.

Now Srinivas and Desigan were the ones with their phones and cameras - yet no pictures have they shared with me, and so I have no evidence of the beautiful blue waters, where  I went snorkelling, every metre filled with new delights, multicoloured fish, and blue and purple corals that seemed to be regrowing on what looked like a lot of dead reef.  

It was just beautiful - enjoyed thoroughly by Srinivas, Desigan and me.  Sekar felt uncomfortable and returned quick and Umesh never did get the hand of breathing through the mouth.

We also had a bunch of young people from NIOT - learning scuba...and we had to wait until they all got into the water, including a senior white foreigner.

We we were all exhausted when we returned - I think it was close to 3pm when we had lunch, and Sekar and I just stayed in for the rest of the evening.  

It was goodbye to Haddo in Port Blair, 

and hello to this airport installation.

Back to Chennai after an uneventful flight - to this last bit of mirth.