Babirusa

Babirusa Wild Pig

Babirusa

A wild pig in the Asian Island region with one set of tusks grow up along the snout, the others grow through the top of the muzzle and curves back toward the forehead

The babirusas are a genus, Babyrousa, in the pig family (Suidae) found in Wallacea, or specifically the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Togian, Sula and Buru. All members of this genus were considered part of a single species until recently, B. babyrussa, but following the split into several species, this scientific name is restricted to the Buru babirusa from Buru and Sula, whereas the best-known species, the north Sulawesi babirusa, is named B. celebensis. The name “pig-deer” has sometimes also been used in English, and is a direct translation of the Indonesian babi-rusa.

Babirusa Description

The male has highly conspicuous tusks formed from the canine teeth, but their exact shape depends on the species. In the north Sulawesi babirusa, they grow upward through the skull and curve back towards the skull between the eyes, while they lack the strong curve in the Togian babirusa. Both the north Sulawesi and Togian babirusa are nearly bald (with only very fine hairs), but the latter has a relatively distinct tail-tuft. As also suggested by the alternative names for the Buru babirusa, hairy or golden buru, it is covered in relatively dense golden hair, resulting in a rather different appearance than the other species.

They are found in tropical forest. Babirusa are omnivores, but mainly feed on fruits.