Babirusa

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

The babirusa is a medium-sized, relatively long-legged pig with a long snout, and a long and thin tail. In males and some females the upturned, curved upper canines grow through the skin. The head-body length is 85-110 cm, the shoulder height 65-80 cm. The weight up to 100 kg. Females are smaller than males and have much smaller canines. The skin is grey or brownish-grey. They have sparse, grey of white bristles, depending on the subspecies. Some subspecies look naked. The gestation lasts five months and the litter size is one, two or rarely three. The female has two pairs of mammae.

Did you know?
that the male babirusa's lower tusks do not self-sharpen against the upper canines as in other pigs? The males must sharpen their lower tusks by rubbing them on trees. These lower canines are used in an offensive manner, while the curled upper tusks probably act as a defensive shield.

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	ARTIODACTYLA
Suborder	NONRUMINANTIA
Family	SUIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Babyrousa babyrussa
Name (English)	Babirusa
Name (French)	Babiroussa
Name (German)	Hirscheber
Name (Spanish)	Babirusa
Local names	Bahasa: babirusa
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Vladimír Motyčka

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Indonesia (Sulawesi)
Habitat	Rainforest
Wild population	Approx.: 5'000
Zoo population	100 reported to ISIS

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 74 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations, should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Vladimír Motyčka

Why do zoos keep this animal

The babirusa is a vulnerable species and its habitat is dwindling and deteriorating. With a view of building up an ex situ insurance population an International Studbook was set up in 1987 under the WAZA umbrella, and zoos maintain now a self-sustained population managed by AZA and EAZA under regional conservation breeding programmes.

The babirusa is a very conspicuous, unusually looking animal and makes a good ambassador species for its threatened habitat the rainforest of Sulawesi.

How this animal should be kept

An outdoor enclosure of no less than 200 m² is required for up to five adults, for each additional adult at least 20 m² should be added. There should be some shelter to protect the animals from intense sunlight and inclement weather. The soil should allow for rooting and wallowing, and there should be some tree trunks for chafing. Decoration consisting of larger rocks, stems or branches is well used for sketching, hiding or playing. If in panic, babirusas can develop considerable strength or jump up to 2 m. Therefore some thought should be given to their enclosure bounds.

In temperate and cold climatic zones, an indoor enclosure of at least 30 m² is required where a temparature of at least 15 ºC should be maintained. A partly floor heating can be advantageous for litters born during winter time. A thick straw bedding is suitable. In addition, there should be separation dens of at least 4 m² for pregnant females, females with piglets and incompatible individuals.

Their main diet consists of preferably vegetables, fruit, grass, silage, leaves and hay but also protein such as cooked meat or eggs. Fresh drinking water should be permanently available.