Babirusa pigs born at London Zoo for first time

Babirusa born at London Zoo

The birth of two babirusa piglets at London Zoo is being hailed as a conservation success for the species which is considered vulnerable to extinction.

The first time the pigs have ever been born at London Zoo, their arrival on 23 July marks an important step in the conservation zoo’s work to protect numbers of the species.

Babirusa pigs (Babyrousa babyrussa) originate from Indonesia where their numbers are declining due to deforestation and the introduction of diseases, to which the pigs are susceptible.

World's ugliest pigs

Thanks to their gnarly tusks - which are actually teeth growing through their noses that curl backwards - and hairless bodies, the pigs are often called "rat pigs" or "demon pigs” in their native Indonesia, earning themselves the unfortunate nickname of ‘world’s ugliest pigs’.

London Zoo’s devoted babirusa keepers however couldn’t disagree more. Our head of hoofstock, Gemma Metcalf, said: “We are delighted by the arrival of the Babirusa twins, and their unique appearance is exactly what makes them so special.  

This is mum Beth’s first litter, but she’s risen to the challenge excellently and the piglets are thriving. They are already looking really strong and have so much energy - scampering around their home and chasing each other - it’s a joy to watch. They’re quite easy to tell apart thanks to their individual hair styles - one has a head of fuzzy red hair, while its sibling has a tuft of dark brown hair.”

Babirusa conservation

Classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, population numbers in the wild are declining due to destruction of their native Indonesian forest habitat and the introduction of non-native diseases. The work of conservation zoos and Indonesian field work, restoring forestland and rivers, play a critical role in helping to protect the global babirusa population.

Visitors can see Beth and her two babies all summer long at the Zoo, alongside over 10,000 other animals, with Universal Credit tickets available from as little as £3.