Science & Technology

Wild pigs known for their curved husks and hairless bodies.

A babirusa is an Indonesian wild pig that is known for its curved tusks and hairless body. The name babirusa means “pig deer” in the Malay language because their tusks resemble deer antlers. Three types of babirusa are known to exist, distinguished by their bodies, teeth, and amount of hair. All types of babirusa are indigenous to different islands in Indonesia.

Babirusa Ancestry and Evolution

Scientists have yet to completely understand the history and evolution of the pig-like mammal. British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace first began writing about it in 1854 when he was exploring an area of Southeast Asia that was named after him. Aside from Wallace’s findings, there is some evidence of the babirusa’s existence in Sulawesi cave art that scientists believe was drawn around 35,400 years ago.

Fossil evidence revealed that there were likely two ancestors of the babirusa that lived long ago. First, the B. babyrussa beruensis lived in southwestern Sulawesi during the Pleistocene period (2.58 million to 11,700 years ago), and it was much larger than today’s babirusa. The second is the B. babyrussa beruensis, which lived in the southeastern region of Sulawesi during the Holocene period (11,700 years ago to present).

Appearance

Though there are variations in its appearance, the most prevalent aspects of the babirusa appear this way: The stout mammal can grow between 2 and 3.5 feet in length and weigh between 132 and 220 pounds. They are gray and nearly hairless, with thin and bony legs, much like those of a deer. Perhaps their most distinctive feature is their tusks. One set grows from their lower snout and the other from the top of their snout. Interestingly, their tusks are teeth but have no known purpose.

The top set of tusks curves back toward the animal’s face, while the bottom tend to grow straight outward.  Females do not always grow top tusks, and when they do, they are much smaller than those of males. The females do, however, always grow the bottom set of tusks that are comparable in size to those of males.

The babirusa’s four hooves are strong and pointed, made for digging and protection against predators and others of their kind while trying to win over a female during mating season.

There are three known species of babirusa. While most of their features are comparable, here are some differences.

First is the North Sulawesi babirusa, which is the most common of the species. Due to its prevalence on the Sulawesi islands, it is commonly referred to as the Sulawesi babirusa. This animal also resides on neighboring islands Buton, Muna, and Lembeh.

Second is the Buru babirusa. It has earned the name hairy or golden babirusa due to its long and thick golden-brown hair. The Buru most commonly make their homes on the islands of Buru, Taliabu, and Mangole.

Finally is the Togian babirusa. This species resides only on Togian Island. it has a larger tail tuft than the other species, and its upper teeth or tusks are thinner and shorter than that of the North Sulawesi babirusa.

Diet and Habitat

These mammals are omnivores, meaning they consume both plants and animals. The babirusa prefers to eat insects and insect larvae as well as plants, berries, leaves, tree bark, and fruit. Using its back hooves to balance, it eats low-hanging leaves from plants and trees. The babirusa also dines on carrion, which is dead animal remains, but typically only if other food is difficult to come by.

The pig-like mammal can be found on islands in Indonesia that include Togian, Sula, Buru, and Sulawesi. It loves tropical climates in rainforests and swamps. It makes shelter beneath brushy areas and thickets of grass known as canebrakes. It commonly lives near rivers and loves to swim and can swim long distances from one island to another.

Reproduction and Lifespan

Babirusa Pig (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

Babirusas are on the verge of becoming endangered, with just over 10,000 of them in existence. Their mating season runs from January to August. The males clash to win over a female, and the fights can get intense. They are careful not to bump their heads while fighting to avoid breaking their fragile tusks. The strongest male wins and mates with several of the females.

The female gives birth to one or two babies, after a 155-to-158-day gestation period. The babies are called piglets and weigh from 10 to 15 pounds. The piglets nurse from their mother until they are around six to eight months of age. Once weaned, the babies venture out on their own.

The mammal lives to be about 10 years of age in the wild but can live to be up to 24 in captivity.

Predators

The babirusa does not have many enemies. Humans and feral dogs are among their biggest predators. Some humans kill them for meat, while some of the locals catch them and train them to be pets.

Interesting Facts About the Pig

• They are part of the swine family along with pigs, hogs, boars, and warthogs.
• The upper teeth or tusks can grow long enough to puncture and even kill the animal.
• To assist in digging, they are missing a bone in their nose called the rostral bone.
• The males like to live solo lives and seldom interact with others.
• Females will live in small groups of up to three or four, including their young.

1. The babirusa is known as the pig deer for its tusks that resemble antlers.
2. The babirusa has two sets of tusks, upper and lower.
3. The babirusa thrives in tropical climates, such as swamps and rainforests.