20 Interesting Facts about Babirusa

What is a Babirusa?

Babirusa is a wild pig species belonging to the family Suidae. It has been referred to as “a Wild pig with a dental problem.” Most wild pigs exist in rainforests of Indonesian islands. It has canine teeth or tusks which develop through the snout and curl back towards the forehead. It features a barrel-shaped body balanced on slender deer-like legs and oddly twisted tusks. Babirusa can weigh up to 220 pounds (100 kg)

Among the four species of babirusa, the naked-looking babirusa dwells in Sulawesi. The other kinds of Babirusa vary in color from white to creamy gold to black and brown. Read on to learn the interesting facts about Babirusa. 

Life Span of Babieusa

• In the wild: Babirusas live around 10 years.
• In captivity: Babirusas live up to 24 years. This is likely due to better access to food, healthcare, and a predator-free environment.

20 Interesting Facts about Babirusa

1. Deer-pigs: They are also called deer-pigs because of their unique tusks that resemble antlers.
2. Amazing Tusks: Babirusa males have remarkable tusks which pass through their snouts bending forward into the face, The exact function of these tusks remains unknown. Earlier myths claimed that male babirusa hung themselves up on branches using tusks to sleep, but these are incorrect. They appear to serve more as a show-off among themselves rather than anything else.
3. Omnivores: Babirusas eat anything ranging from fruits, roots, vegetables, and leaves to small mammals, birds, crustaceans, and insects hence are classified as omnivores.
4. Social Structure: Male babirusas tend to live solitary or in bachelor herds of two to three males, while females can be found in groups of up to eight individuals with young.
5. Diurnal: They spend the majority of the day roaming and foraging throughout the forest. Babirusas are mostly diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and sleeping at night.
6. Mud Wallowing: When not foraging, they may wallow in the mud or just lie down and rest during the heat of the day.
7. Predator-Free Environment: Amazingly, babirusas live in a predator-free environment in their natural habitat.
8. Human Threat: Unfortunately, humans are their main threat. Habitat loss and hunting are the biggest dangers to babirusas.
9. Island Dwellers: Babirusas are found only on the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Buru, Togian, and Sula. 1
10. Not Your Average Pig Snout: Unlike other pigs, babirusas have a softer snout and cannot dig in hard ground.
11. Two-Chambered Stomach: Also unlike other pigs, babirusas have complex, two-chambered stomachs, similar to those of sheep and cows.
12. Endangered Species: All four species of babirusa are endangered. The IUCN Red List lists the Babirusa as Vulnerable.
13. Long Lifespan in Captivity: While their lifespan in the wild is around 10 years, babirusas can live up to 24 years in human care.
14. Piglet Facts: A female babirusa’s pregnancy usually lasts for approximately 155-158 days, and she normally produces one or two offspring, each of which weighs between 4.5 and 7 kilograms (10-15 pounds).
15. Swift Runners and Swimmers: Despite their stout appearance, babirusas are surprisingly fast runners. They are also proficient swimmers and can often be seen swimming from one island to another.
16. Tree Sharpeners: In contrast to other suids, babirusas do not sharpen their lower tusks by rubbing them against the upper ones. Masculine babirusas, however, regularly sharpen their tusks on tree bark.
17. Communicative Creatures: Babirusas are quite vocal creatures, using a variety of low moans, grunts, and clicks to communicate with each other.
18. Straw Nest Builders: Babirusas construct simple nests out of a straw for sleeping and raising their young.
19. Important Seed Dispersers: Babirusas play an important role in the rainforest ecosystem by dispersing seeds through their scat.
20. Babirusa in Mythology: Babirusas are featured in the mythology of the people of Sulawesi. They are seen as powerful creatures and are sometimes associated with the spirit world.