Endangered Animals of Asia
The Babirusa
Description
- Looks like average boar
- Name means "pig-deer" in the native language of Malaysia, Malay
- Named for its pig body and "antlers" like a deer.
- Majority of Babirusa (Three species total, which branches off from Suidae) centralized in Indonesia and Malaysia
- Males live alone
- Females/piglets live in groups of 13 or less
- Tusk can pierce own skull
(Wikipedia & IUCN Red List & Science blogs.com)
Food Chain
- They mainly eat leaves, fruits, roots, and some (dead) animals.
- Main Predator(s) wild dogs and natives
- Hunted for meat, sold in small amounts in markets
(Wikipedia)
Habitat
As in the first paragraph:
- Lives in Indonesia and Malaysia
- Near rivers, rain-forests and lowland forests.
(Enchanted Learning)
Babirusa skull
The tusk pierced the skull, probably causing the Babirusa to die painfully and slowly. (Flickr)
Female Babirusa
A different gender of the branch of Suids (Flickr)
Young Male Babirusa
Only the front tusks have grown, leaving the back ones yet to be developed. (Flickr)
Adaptation
- Scientists believe this branch of Suids "created" when land in southern Asia started splitting into islands
- While living in a different land and setting, they developed tusks or "antlers" for some reason scientists still don't know.
- Two pairs of antlers, one pair on top and another on the bottom
- Top set is for defense, and the lower pair for offense
- Tusks are used when the males are competing for mates.
Critical Information/Endangered
Critical Info/Endangered
- Loss of habitat (deforestation)
- Illegal game
- Low birth rate of 1 - 2 piglets.
- Population of Babirusas is about 4,000 to 5,000 right now (decreasing).
(IUCN Red List)
Joseph Deng
Email: jodeng3388@gmail.com
Photo Credit
1.Ellis, Tim. Babirusa. 2009. Photograph. Flickr, Twycross Zoo.
2. Dodds, Chris L. IMG_5299. 2012. Photograph. Flickr, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.Flickr. Yahoo, 19 Mar. 2012. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_dodds/6852070374/>.
3.Souza, Mike. Babirusa. 2011. Photograph. San Diego. Flickr. Yahoo. Web. 2 Apr. 2013.
4.Ellis, Tim. Babirusa. 2011. Photograph. Dudley, England. Flickr.com. Yahoo. Web. 2 Apr. 2013. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/tim_ellis/5843432288/>.