Context: Chester Zoo in the UK announced the birth of Rana, a rare babirusa piglet, amid declining wild populations threatened by African swine fever, habitat loss and hunting in Indonesia.
What It Is
The babirusa (genus Babyrousa) — commonly called the “pig-deer” — is one of the oldest living and strangest wild pig species. The name comes from Malay, describing its distinctive look and stag-like upper tusks (babi = pig, rusa = deer).
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Geographic range | Endemic exclusively to four Indonesian islands — Sulawesi, Togian, Sula and Buru |
| Ecosystem | Tropical rainforests, swamps and wetlands, often near riverbanks and ponds rich in aquatic plants |
| IUCN status | Vulnerable |
