Ossabaw Island Hogs

Livestock were brought to America by early explorers as early as the 1500s.  Some of these were pigs that either escaped or were set free.  Ossabaw Island Hogs are a feral breed found off the coast of Georgia near Savannah. 

Ossabaws are unusual for three reasons.  First, the breed is an isolated population, so it is the closest representative of historic stocks brought over by Spanish explorers.  Second, the hogs' presence on Ossabaw island gives scientists with the opportunity to study a long-term feral population.  Third, the breed is unique because it has been shaped by natural selection in an environment known for a seasonal lack of food, heat, and humidity.  Ossabaw Island Hogs are able to store large amounts of body fat so they can survive seasons with little available food. 

This is similar to non-insulin dependent diabetes in humans.  Although the hogs have lived on Ossabaw Island for centuries, they have an ecological impact on the island.  Some environmentalists have proposed extermination of the population, and their future is dependent on the state's ability to manage the appropriate number of animals.  The breed's conservation is further complicated because some pigs on the island test positive for porcine vesicular stomatitus (PSV) and pseudorabies.

The American livestock breeds conservancy lists Ossabaw Island Hogs in the 'Critical' status.