Rare piglet the size of 'a grapefruit with legs' born at zoo

A rare piglet, named Rana, the size of a grapefruit with legs, made her debut at Chester Zoo, conservationists have reported. This babirusa, also known as a pig-deer, is considered a lifeline for her species, which is rapidly declining in the wild. The babirusa population is confined to just four Indonesian islands, where they have been decimated by African swine fever five years ago. Rana's mother, Matano, was born at Chester Zoo 11 years ago and has since given birth to descendants living in zoos across Europe.

Hannah Owens, a zoo keeper, stated that Rana, once tiny, has grown well and is thriving. Notably, babirusas were previously classified as vulnerable to extinction but are now set to be upgraded to critically endangered status. Rana is the fifth piglet born to Matano, who now has relatives in zoos throughout Europe. Owens emphasized that while babirusas are doing well in captivity, wild numbers are drastically decreasing, and their disappearance would be disastrous.

Unlike most pigs, babirusas typically give birth to few piglets at a time, making recovery slow when wild populations face hardships.

Babirusas, known as pig-deer due to their unique appearance, are hairier than other pigs, with males being the only ones whose upper tusks erupt through the snout bone and curve towards their face. Chester Zoo is collaborating with partners to safeguard wild babirusa populations via the Action Indonesia Global Species Management Plans.

Conservationist Amy Humphreys described Rana's arrival as a race against time, highlighting their importance to island ecosystems as seed dispersers and as key indicators of ecosystem health. Humphreys warned of the bleak situation, expressing concern about losing a unique species integral to Indonesia's cultural and natural heritage.