Babirusa

Babirusa

This pig’s torpedo-shaped body helps it move easily through thickets of marsh plants. They are also nimble in the water and often swim in the sea to reach small islands. Because their tusks are in the way, babirusa do not use their nose to root under the ground for food like other pigs. Instead, they use their feet to dig into the dirt to uncover some of the things they eat.

In the past, people hunted babirusa for food. Today, they are protected by law in Indonesia, but poaching and habitat loss threaten their future.

Area:  

Indonesia

Habitat: 

 Swamps and forests along rivers and lakes

Food:  

leaves, fruit, berries, roots, and insect larvae

Size:  

about 2 feet tall at the shoulder; 3 feet long

Babies:  

begin eating some solid food at about 10 days old; babies are not striped like other wild piglets.

(source:google/http://adminkids.sandiegozoo.org/)