Babirusa (genus Babyrousa)

MammalWild pigIndonesia

Overview

The babirusa (genus Babyrousa) is one of the strangest pigs in the world — a wild pig of Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia, with a nearly hairless, greyish body and, in the males, an extraordinary set of tusks. The name means “pig-deer” in Malay, a nod to those tusks, which in males of some forms grow so dramatically that the upper pair actually pierces through the top of the snout and curves back over the face toward the forehead.

No other mammal has tusks quite like this. Because the upper canines turn upward and grow through the skin of the muzzle rather than out of the mouth, an old male's tusks can curl into striking arcs — and, if never worn down, could in theory keep growing back toward the skull.

Note: “babirusa” covers a few species; details here describe the group broadly (only males grow the famous tusks). Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Babirusas live only in Indonesia — on Sulawesi and a few surrounding islands — in tropical rainforest, often in moist areas near rivers, lakes, and swamps. They are tied to forest and waterside habitats, where they forage and wallow, and their small island ranges make them especially vulnerable to habitat loss.

Diet

Babirusas are omnivores with a relatively simple, non-rooting feeding style compared with other pigs: they eat fruit, leaves, nuts, fungi, and other plant matter, along with invertebrates and small animals. Unlike typical pigs, they do not dig and root in the soil with their snouts to nearly the same degree, partly reflecting differences in their stomach and snout. They are fond of fallen fruit and visit mineral-rich sites to supplement their diet.

Behavior

The males' remarkable tusks are the babirusa's signature. The upper canines grow upward and backward, emerging through the top of the snout, while the lower canines also curve up; their exact function is debated, but they appear to be used in display and as protection for the face during male contests rather than as effective weapons (they are fairly brittle). Babirusas are generally social, with females and young in small groups and males more solitary, and they are good swimmers, sometimes crossing water between areas. They wallow in mud like other pigs and are active by day.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Babirusas are of conservation concern, threatened by habitat loss from logging and farming and by hunting for their meat, and their restricted island ranges leave little buffer; some forms are considered endangered. They are protected in Indonesia and are a flagship for Sulawesi's wildlife, kept and bred in zoos worldwide. Their bizarre tusks have long featured in local art and culture. Consult the IUCN Red List for species-specific status.

More photos of the babirusa