Greater Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris)

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Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has released the first scientific assessment report on the Greater Hog Badger, providing valuable insights into the ecology, distribution, and conservation status of this elusive mammal.

About Greater Hog Badger

The Greater Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris) is a nocturnal, ground-dwelling, burrowing omnivorous mammal belonging to the badger family. In Assam, it is popularly known as "Mati Gahori". Globally, the genus Arctonyx comprises three living species—the Greater Hog Badger, the Northern Hog Badger (Arctonyx albogularis), and the Sumatran Hog Badger (Arctonyx hoevenii). Of these, the Greater and Northern Hog Badgers are found in India.

Distribution and Habitat

The species is widely distributed across South, Central, and Southeast Asia, with its range extending from Bangladesh and northeastern India through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. It inhabits diverse ecosystems, including tropical evergreen forests, grasslands, savannas, shrublands, as well as hilly and mountainous regions, where suitable burrowing conditions are available.

Physical Features and Characteristics

The Greater Hog Badger is easily recognized by its elongated pig-like snout, which is specially adapted for digging in the soil. Its forward-pointing modified teeth help overturn soil while searching for food. It is a shy, solitary, and highly territorial animal that marks its territory using scent secretions on grass, rocks, and tree trunks.

It is an excellent burrower, constructing underground shelters and excavating soil to locate food. Its omnivorous diet includes earthworms, insects, small mammals, fruits, tubers, and roots, making it an important component of forest food webs.

Ecological Importance

The Greater Hog Badger plays a significant ecological role as a fossorial (burrowing) mammal. Its digging activities improve soil aeration, enhance nutrient recycling, and promote leaf litter decomposition. These processes create favourable conditions for seed germination and provide microhabitats for numerous invertebrates and small vertebrates, thereby supporting overall ecosystem health and biodiversity.

Conservation Status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Greater Hog Badger as Vulnerable due to habitat loss, hunting, and other anthropogenic pressures. In India, it receives the highest level of legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, ensuring strict conservation measures for its survival.