Babirusa

The extraordinary tusks

No other pig has tusks like the babirusa. In males, the upper canine teeth grow upward through the skin of the snout, forming permanent recurved curves that spiral back toward the skull. In old males, these upper tusks can complete nearly a full circle. The lower canines grow upward in the normal pig fashion but are also enlarged. The function of the upper tusks is debated — they appear too fragile for fighting or digging, and may serve primarily as visual signals of male status, much like a peacock’s tail.

Sulawesi endemic

The babirusa is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and a few smaller adjacent islands. Sulawesi is one of Wallace’s Line islands — the boundary between Asian and Australasian faunal zones — and its wildlife evolved in relative isolation, producing many endemic and unusual forms. The babirusa is thought to have diverged from other pigs around 30 million years ago, making it one of the most basal living members of the pig family.

Diet and digestion

Unlike most pigs, babirusas have a stomach structure closer to ruminants, with features that allow them to digest leaves and other vegetation more efficiently. They feed on fruit, leaves, fungi, and invertebrates. They use their snouts to root but also stand on their hind legs to reach fruit and leaves. The reduced rooting behaviour compared to other pigs may explain why their upper tusks are not worn down by digging.

Conservation status

Babirusas are Vulnerable, threatened by hunting and forest clearance. They are considered a delicacy in some parts of Sulawesi, and hunting pressure combined with habitat loss has reduced populations significantly. Captive breeding programmes exist in zoos worldwide, and they are protected under Indonesian law.