Mammals
Sulawesi Babirusa
Babyrousa celebensis · also called North Sulawesi babirusa, deer-pig
At the edge of a swamp in northern Sulawesi, a male babirusa wallows in the mud, its upper tusks curling up through its snout like a pair of horns.
Overview
The Sulawesi babirusa, Babyrousa celebensis, is a Vulnerable wild pig found only on Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. Its tusks that grow through its snout, nearly hairless skin, and swamp-living habits make it one of the strangest and most recognisable pigs in the world.
A pig with tusks like horns
The babirusa’s upturned tusks are so unusual that its name means deer-pig, a reminder of how different it is from familiar wild boar.
Status
Vulnerable, with a decreasing population.
Sulawesi Babirusa: common questions
Why do babirusa tusks grow through the snout?
The upper tusks of males grow upward through the skin of the snout and curve back toward the forehead, rather than growing out of the mouth.
What does babirusa mean?
It comes from Malay words meaning deer-pig, because of its long legs and curved tusks.
Is the babirusa hairy?
No, it has thick, wrinkled grey skin with very little hair.
Where is the Sulawesi babirusa found?
It lives only on Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia.