Rare Babirusa Pig Born

See our babirusa baby photo gallery.

 

The Houston Zoo recorded a first on May 21 with the birth of a rare and endangered babirusa pig. The new arrival is named Hadiah (pronounced: huh-DI-ah).  Her name means "gift" in an Indonesian language.  Hadiah weighed approximately one pound at birth and she immediately captured the hearts of her keepers. The newborn may be seen daily on exhibit at the Zoo's Wortham World of Primates with her mother Remley.  Hadiah is Remley's first birth. 

 

Houston Zoo veterinarians confirmed Remley's pregnancy and monitored her progress through an ultrasound procedure.  "We were very excited to see the baby's heartbeat on the ultrasound," said Houston Zoo primate supervisor Lynn Killam.  "But we were absolutely thrilled to see the birth via remote viewing camera.  Remley is a wonderful caring mother and Hadiah is just so precious," added Killam.  The babirusa gestation period averages 163 days.  The baby will nurse for 25 to 32 weeks, about 5 to 6 months.

 

The birth provides the Zoo a unique opportunity to collect information about the newborn's development and the interaction between Remley and her baby.  "We're fortunate to have an intern who will be observing Hadiah and Remley for the next 8 weeks," said Killam. 

 

Babirusas are small hairless pigs native to the small tropical Indonesian island of Sulawesi.  Elusive forest dwellers, little is known about the natural history and natural behavior of the babirusa, mainly due to the nature of its dense jungle habitat.  Masters of camouflage, the babirusa's coloration, torpedo-shaped body and deer-like movements enable it to melt silently into surrounding cover at the slightest disturbance.  It's appropriate that the translation of babirusa is "pig-deer." They typically give birth to 1, 2 or, rarely, 3 piglets.

Babirusas are critically endangered in the wild due to habitat loss and hunting.  In 1989 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) rated the babirusa as the Asian pig species in greatest need of immediate conservation measures.