The Babirusa – or famous as pig-deers are unique animals endemic to Indonesia. The names come from their snout that resembles a pig, but have long canines above the nose like deer antlers.
Inhabits tropical rainforests, near the shores of rivers and lakes, there are four species exist according to their habitat. We introduce these four of the pig-deer family to you!
Buru Babirusa
The Buru Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) known as the smallest species of Babirusa. These pig-deer is native to the Indonesian islands of Buru, the two Sula Islands of Mangole and Taliabu.
Before, they still considered as subspecies, but then Buru Babirusa tend to be separate by other species due to differences in morphology. Unlike other extant Babirusas, they have hair on their body which is long, thick and gold-brown. They possess a well-developed tail-tuft, and the males have relatively short and slender upper canine teeth.
Bola Batu Babirusa
Another species of Babirusa from the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi is the Bola Batu babirusa (Babyrousa bolabatuensis). They are known for certain from subfossil remains from the southern arm of Sulawesi.
There is still controversy going on regarding this species, as the central Sulawesi specimen (which is Bola Batu Babirusa) and the Togian Babirusa have similarities. It is leading them that the taxonomic position of central Sulawesi Babirusas only can be determined through additional specimens.
The North Sulawesi babirusa
The North Sulawesi babirusa (Babyrousa celebensis) is native to Sulawesi and some nearby islands (Lembeh, Buton and Muna) in Indonesia. This species is virtually hairless compare to Buru Babirusa, and the tail-tuft is also nearly hairless. The male has long and thick upper canine teeth that have a strong curve.
Togian babirusa
The last one is famous as the largest species – which is The Togian Babirusa (Babyrousa togeanensis). These pig-deer, like their name, is endemic to Togian Islands of Indonesia.
They have a relatively well-developed tail-tuft, and the upper canines of the male are “short, slender, rotated forwards, and always converge. Unlike other species, the Togian Babirusa does not root at the ground with its snout when foraging. Instead, they try to pawing at the ground to uproot plants.
Hence, let’s give your support to protect the endemic animals from Indonesia, especially these pig-deer family together with Bali Safari Park!
