Salisbury Zoo Welcomes Five Endangered Chacoan Peccaries

SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury Zoo announced the arrival of a herd of five Chacoan peccaries on Thursday, the first time this endangered species has been represented in the Zoo’s animal collection.

Although often associated with pigs, Chacoan peccaries are only distantly related, and are considered to be more “pig-adjacent.” The species is native to the Gran Chaco region of Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina. Fewer than 3,000 peccaries remain in the wild due to rapid habitat loss and fragmentation.

City officials say the new herd arrived from accredited zoos across the country as part of a cooperative species-management effort. The Chacoan peccaries, named Fern, Wilma, Anjie, Adzuki and Jelly, can now be seen in the South America habitat across from the American bison.

“It is our privilege to care for these charismatic animals and to bring awareness to the plight of their wild counterparts,” Luke Krider, Salisbury Zoo Collection Curator said. “We are proud to contribute to long-term survival, sustainability and health of the Chacoan peccary in human care and in the wild.”

To prepare for their arrival, Salisbury Zoo staff completed extensive upgrades to the existing habitat, including perimeter fence replacements, foliage removal and the addition of outdoor holding yards to support safe and progressive introductions among group members. The Zoo also collaborated with multiple contractors to update the interior holding building.