Babirusas - Disney Animals

Native to the forests of Indonesia, these “pig deer,” as they are called in the Malay language, are named for the males’ long white tusks, which resemble antlers. Excellent swimmers, they navigate the waterways and channels between their island habitats while foraging for their favorite fruits, insects, leaves and roots.

As you walk through the Oasis Exhibits at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, you may catch these playful pigs wallowing in a cool patch of mud or wearing down their tusks against a tough tree.

Be on the lookout for some of the babirusa’s other relatives like the KuneKune pigs at the Affection Section and the warthogs at Kilimanjaro Safaris. Or, check out the serene savannas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, where you may spot red river hogs.

Here’s a look inside the life of a babirusa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park:

• A Dazzling Oasis: With lush foliage, rippling pools and bubbling waterfalls, this habitat is perfectly suited for these pigs, who make their homes in sprawling forests near bodies of water.
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• Veterinary Care and Training: With tasty treats and positive re-enforcement, animal care experts have taught these pigs to stay in one place while they give them little spa treatments, trimming their tusks and filing their hooves.
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• An Apple a Day: These amazing animals enjoy a colorful variety of fresh fruits and veggies, such as red apples, crunchy carrots and juicy watermelons—plus the occasional hard-boiled egg!

The Walt Disney Company is committed to saving wildlife and protecting the magic of nature together as a global community.

In the wild, babirusas are threatened by habitat loss and significant poaching threats. The Disney Conservation Fund* has supported nonprofit organizations working with Indonesian communities to preserve forest habitats and to create alternate livelihoods for those who might otherwise resort to poaching species like the babirusa.