Rare Babirusa Piglet Born at Chester Zoo Is the Size of a Grapefruit and Offers Hope for a Vulnerable Species
Learn how Rana’s birth at Chester Zoo supports efforts to protect babirusas as African swine fever reduces their wild populations.
Rana, a tiny babirusa piglet born at Chester Zoo, is causing excitement as she stands only as large as a grapefruit when she first emerges. Born to mother Matano, Rana is highlighted as a promising sign for the vulnerable babirusa species. African swine fever has reduced babirusa populations on their native Indonesian islands, pushing the species towards Critically Endangered status.
Chester Zoo's birth of Rana marks the first babirusa birth at the facility in several years. Matano, a female babirusa, gave birth to Rana after being closely monitored by zookeepers. In the wild, babirusas usually have only one or two piglets, a fact that slows the recovery of the species post-disease. Chester Zoo's efforts to protect babirusas extend beyond births, with partnerships to coordinate breeding programs and camera-trap studies to monitor the species' population.
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