Moluccan babirusa, Golden babirusa, Hairy babirusa
Buru babirusas (Babyrousa babyrussa) are wild pig-like animals native to Southeast Asia. They have a remarkable "prehistoric" appearance due to the prominent upwards incurving canine tusks of the males, which actually pierce the flesh in the snout.
Buru babirusas have relatively long thick, gold-brown body hair. Their jaws and teeth are strong enough to crack any kind of nuts. Babirusas lack the rostral bone in their nose, which is a tool used by other wild pigs for digging. Therefore, they prefer feeding on roots in soft muddy, or sandy soils.
Buru babirusas are found only on the Indonesian islands of Buru, the two Sula Islands of Mangole and Taliabu. They live in tropical rainforests, near river banks and various natural ponds rich in water plants.
Buru babirusas are diurnal animals. They are usually active in the morning and the afternoon. When not foraging they spend time resting, sleeping, or wallowing in mud. North Sulawesi babirusas are social and form groups with up to a dozen individuals, especially when raising their young. Older males might live individually.
Buru babirusas are omnivores. They feed on various leaves, roots, fruits, invertebrates, and small vertebrates.
Little is known about the mating system of Buru babirusas. After the gestation period of 150-157 days females give birth to 1-2 piglets weighing 380-1,050 grams (15-35 oz) and measuring 15-20 cm (6-8 inches). The young are nursed until the age of 6-8 months and become reproductively mature when they are 5-10 months old.
The habitat of Buru babirusas is restricted to a total area of 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi), and its gradual loss due to logging and expansion of agricultural areas threatened the species. These animals are also widely hunted for meat by the indigenous people of Buru.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Buru babirusa total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.