Port Blair, Oct. 8: As part of the ongoing 68th Wildlife Week celebrations, the Department of Environment and Forests in association with the Tribal Welfare Department released 8 (3 males 5 females) of Andaman Wild pigs (Sus scrofa andamensis ) into the Reserve Forest inside Jarawa Tribal Reserve Area today. Andaman Wild pig is an endangered endemic species found in Andaman Islands.

The initiative is a part of the conservation efforts of Forest Department by naturally breeding the endangered endemic swine found in the Andaman Islands and releasing them into their natural habitat. Further, the aim of this re-stocking programme is to enhance natural food resources for the Jarawa tribe and restoring depleting food base in the reserve areas.

Shri Nikhil Kumar, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (TW) graced the occasion as the chief guest. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden, Shri R S C Jayaraj, IFS, Dr. S Senthil Kumar, IFS the Chief Conservator of Forest (Wild Life), Shri Ankit Yadav, IAS, Secretary (TW), along with other officers of Forest and Tribal Welfare Department were present during this programme.

The Commissioner-cum-Secretary (TW) expressed his happiness on the initiative of the Forest Department for this conservation effort while simultaneously augmenting the food resources for the PVTGs.