Yes, only the wild pig is known to be an endemic 'subspecies'
(academically debatable) in each Andaman and Nicobar. But
traditionally Nicobari have transported pig as well. Domestic pig
was being bred at all villages, with almost each household having
their stock. The nicobari have denuded their populations of wild pig
on smaller islands (like Trinkat). larger islands still have/had
populations. unfortunately their harvest of the crop is not
sustainable even on the larger islands. the only island population
that was given a chance of some population growth was on
Tillanchong. This was because the island is accessible only certain
times of the year and due to superstitions. These superstitions
include not over harvesting the pigs. The tillanchong wild pig
population may have been severely affected as it quite likely
inhabits the central part of the island (a little over sea level,
like Trinkat, and only 1 km at its widest) the north and south of
Tillanchong are very steep outcroppings, sliding rapidly into the
sea, quite unlike the refuge that is available on the elevated
portions of Trinkat. But since it is uninhabited this season, I
doubt this population of pigs is of any concern.

The nicobar chicken I believe is in the Nancowry group only. known
as nattapaun (short legged). Chickens are not endemic, but certainly
local varieties at most.

Goat is not endemic, it is a weed imported from the mainland, infact
destroying some habitats all together. Deer are also weed in these
islands destroying Andaman habitats. Deer and goat are consumed in
the Andamans routinely.

species introductions by the administration has been prevalent in
the past and a result of ignorance and disregard. Signs of
introduced plants used to be visible at all island radio stations,
forest camps etc including on the uninhabited Tillanchong.

Regarding species being fine or not, will depend on systematic
studies of the wild populations. Of the domestics it is easy to
assess. I expect on islands of the central and southern nicobars,
the pigs should be safe due to refuges at higher elevations.

Regarding horticultural/agricultural introductions, I can only
imagine the ground situation. but there doesn't seem to me anything
that will cause more damage to the habitats than the new forest
clearings and consequent introductions.

there is also the risk of introducing species among islands during
the rehab and reconstruction process. the common garden lizard was
supposedly introduced during the british days into portblair. I
found a population on Car Nicobar, that was not reported by the
British or any one subsequently, on the air force compound wall. I
am yet to analyze its genetic profile in the next few weeks to
confirm that it was the result of imports of construction material
(administrative and military) and not a lost endemic
population/species. (morphologically it is the mainland garden
lizard).



Shreyas



--- In andamanicobar@..., Anthra <anthra@v...> wrote:
> yes the nicobari pig and the nicobari chicken are unique to the
islands and
> need to be preserved . I have been in touch with Pankaj and am
awaiting some
> response . The Governer was quite unaware about these breeds and
their
> relavance to
> The livelihood s of teh communities there
> Nitya
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ashish Kothari" <ashishkothari@v...>
> To: <andamanicobar@...>
> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 11:52 AM
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] help in getting useful info
>
>
> >
> > Dear Nitya,
> >
> > I wonder if there are any breeds of livestock and poultry that
are
> > indigenous to the islands, or whether they would all have been
brought in
> > from the mainland in the first place.....is there any research
on this?
> >
> > I agree that the move to introduce livestock and new crop
varieties should
> > be viewed with caution, esp. given that this is an island
environment,
> > highly susceptible to introductions of new species....new crops
and
> > livestock could come with pests that could become serious for
indigenous
> > species also. In the hurry to provide renewed livelihood
options, such
> > mistakes should not be made....Pankaj is currently in the
islands with a
> > team that is hopefully looking into the ecological aspects of the
> > reconstruction/rehabilitation work, so if he's looking at these
mails,
> > perhaps he can make enquiries about this also.
> >
> > Ashish
> >
> > Ashish Kothari
> > Kalpavriksh - Environment Action Group
> > Apt. 5 Shree Datta Krupa
> > 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> > Pune 411004, India
> > Tel: 91-20-25675450
> > Tel/fax: 91-20-25654239
> > Email: ashishkothari@v... (or ashish@n...)
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Anthra" <anthra@v...>
> > To: <andamanicobar@...>
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 3:59 PM
> > Subject: Fw: [andamanicobar] help in getting useful info
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Anthra" <anthra@v...>
> > > To: <andamanicobar@...>
> > > Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 11:33 AM
> > > Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] help in getting useful info
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Dear All,
> > > >
> > > > I was just at a meeting of NGO's ,&journalists with Prof Ram
Kapse Lt
> > Gov
> > > of
> > > > Andamans and Nicobar . I asked him about the situation of
native
> > livestock
> > > > breeds ( pig and poultry ) and any adverse effects on tehm
because of
> > the
> > > > Tsunami . He claimed all was well with tehse species
including the
> > Andaman
> > > > Goat . Is this true that these species are not affected ?
> > > >
> > > > Further it appears BAIF is active in relief work and has
been invited
> by
> > > the
> > > > Governor .. Mr. . Hegde the president of BAIF was talking
abount
> > > introducing
> > > > cows and calves and saline tolerant new varieties to boost
agriculture
> ,
> > > > increase employment opportunities etcetc . From an
environmental and
> > > social
> > > > point of view are these interventions necessary ??
> > > > Regards
> > > >
> > > > Nitya Ghotge
> > > > Director
> > > > ANTHRA
> > > > Pune
> > > > 28.1.2005
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Roy Laifungbam" <laifungbam@c...>
> > > > To: <andamanicobar@...>
> > > > Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 7:04 PM
> > > > Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] help in getting useful info
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > I agree with Abraham George. A lot of this group chatter
is not
> > getting
> > > us
> > > > the really important update from the ground we all need to
muster our
> > > > solidarity and help. Can we have this sorted out asap. I
guess, Pankaj
> > and
> > > > SANE should know of some groups that can monitor
independently.
> > > > >
> > > > > Roy
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: Abraham M. George
> > > > > To: andamanicobar@...
> > > > > Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 8:31 AM
> > > > > Subject: [andamanicobar] help in getting useful info
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Friends,
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Does anyone know of major independent NGOs (not
affiliated with
> the
> > > > > government) doing relief work in the remote islands of
Andamans
> and
> > > > Nicobar?
> > > > > If so, do we have their current reports on the status of
relief
> > > > operations?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Separately, what is the true count of dead or missing in
the
> > islands?
> > > > How
> > > > > many are dead or missing in the mainland? The official
total
> (around
> > > > 11,000
> > > > > in the mainland and the islands combined) do not seem to
add up
> > > > correctly.
> > > > > Can anyone clarify these figures accurately?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > How many people have suffered serious injuries and/or
property
> > > > damage/loss,
> > > > > both in the mainland and the islands? This figure would
give us an
> > > idea
> > > > of
> > > > > the funds needed to rehabilitate them, and help them
with their
> > > > livelihood -
> > > > > a several years of effort.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Abraham
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------
---------
> > > > ----
> > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > > >
> > > > > a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
> > > > > http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/andamanicobar/
> > > > >
> > > > > b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > > > andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
> > > > >
> > > > > c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo!
Terms of
> > > > Service.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >