The babirusa probably is the world's weirdest-looking pig. The creature's prominent teeth are impossible to miss: Besides two tusks extending from its lower jaw, the pig has two teeth that protrude through the top of its snout! Thankfully for babirusas, this doesn't hurt them, and actually helps protect their eyes when they forage for food or tangle with other babirusas. Males of this species fight fiercely over females, even standing up to square off like heavyweight boxers!
Pig Boxing: Male babirusas fight viciously with each other during their breeding season, stabbing and slicing at each other with their bottom tusks. Sometimes they even rear up on their hind legs and "punch" each other, hoping to break their rivals' tusks.
Eat Up: This pig's bottom tusks make great digging tools, easily unearthing roots, worms and insect larvae from the soil. The creature also munches on fruits, nuts and leaves, using two stomachs to help digest foods other animals can't handle.
Tusk, Tusk[]
Mud baths are a regular routine for the babirusa.
The male babirusa actually has tusks growing through its snout. These are the pig's upper canine teeth, which curve upward and slice through the roof of the creature's mouth as they grow, and can reach one foot in length. After going all the way through the snout, the tusks curve downward, sometimes poking back into the babirusa's head. These tusks protect the creature's eyes when it's rooting through thick brush and when fighting rivals.
Swim for It: Though it's a bulky beast, the babirusa is a very good swimmer. This creature can often be seen swimming from one island to another in Indonesia, seeking new places to forage or find mates.
Mud Lover: It can be difficult to find a babirusa that isn't covered in mud. These swine wallow in mud puddles every day-the mud acts like bug spray against mosquitoes, and helps suffocate parasites that latch onto their hide.
Tusk Tussle[]
- Two males converge on the same female during breeding season, and have no choice but to fight. One makes a quick slash at the other and opens a wound on its legs.
- The pigs continue to fight. Their upper tusks protect their heads and eyes from each others' lower tusks, but their legs soon become bloody from battle.
- Eventually, one of the babirusas has had enough, and turns to flee. The victor chases him for a few yards to make sure his defeated rival won't come back.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The image on the back right of the card is also used for the front photo on the babirusa's Wildlife Explorer series.