The babirusa has been called “a wild pig with a dental problem.” They have remarkable tusks or canine teeth that can grow right up through the skin in their snout and curve back toward their forehead. The word babirusa means “pig deer” in Malagasy, as their wild-growing tusks are reminiscent of deer antlers. Find out more!

Don’t drain the swamp. Babirusas live in swamps in the rain forest of Indonesia—specifically the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Togian, Sula, and Buru—and are found nowhere else in the world.

In the wild, male babirusas tend to live in solitary or in bachelor herds of two to three males, while females can be found in groups of up to eight individuals with young.

They spend the majority of the day roaming and foraging throughout the forest. Little is known about this shy, forest-dwelling pig’s habits in the wild.

Based on observation of captive animals, the babirusa appears to be mostly diurnal—active during the day and sleeping at night. When not foraging, they may wallow in the mud or just lie down and rest during the heat of the day. The babirusa lives in a predator-free environment but, unfortunately, humans are the main threat to this species.