Babirusa
Members of the pig family, these are widely considered to be among the world’s strangest looking animals, with the literal translation of their name being ‘pig-deer’. Far from beautiful, the lower canine teeth of the males grow as tusks, vertically outwards and curving back towards the forehead. The upper teeth grow up to 30cm long pushing their way through the skin of the snout. Their bodies are rounded and grey or brown, with lighter underparts and bald hides. Adults often have large folds of skin on the neck and belly, with a light covering of yellow hairs. So dramatic is their physical appearance that Indonesians make demonic masks based on them and in the past have made them the ‘stars’ of fantastical myths and legends.
What they eat
Fruits, fungi, leaves, insect larvae, nuts and small mammals.
How long they live
Up to 24 years.
Biology
Fast runners and good swimmers, Babirusa also have excellent hearing and smell to help them hunt out food in dense forestry. Adult males are solitary but females live in small groups, reaching sexual maturity aged from one to two years. Males use their fearsome tusks to fight each other for the right to mate females in a given area. Reproduction is slower than with other pigs, with a gestation period of about 157 days and females having one to two piglets after each mating, nursing them for between six to eight months.
Did you know?
When excited Babirusa clatter their teeth.
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Species Profile
Common name
Babirusa
Scientific name
Babyrousa celebensis
Animal group/type
Mammal - hoofed
Where they live
Indonesia – The Northern peninsular of Sulawesi island including Lembeh island.
Habitat
Tropical rainforests and forests on riverbanks and lakes.
Size
85-110cm in length
Weight
43-100kg
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
Vulnerable
Threats
Habitat destruction due to logging, urban and agricultural development.
Illegal poaching. They are hunted and sold in local meat markets, their meat being considered a delicacy.