Babirusa Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is celebrating a first for the park: the birth of a babirusa piglet. The Disney animal care team has chosen to name her Kirana, which translates to “sunbeam” in Indonesian.
Babirusas are part of the hog family, native to the swamps and rainforests of the Indonesian Islands. They’re known for their unique snouts and magnificent tusks that can grow up to almost 17 inches. Close relatives of the babirusa also live at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, such as the warthogs on Kilimanjaro Safaris and the KuneKune pigs at Affection Section.
This birth is another success story our dedicated team of Disney animal care experts, as parents Betty and Mentari were chosen to breed through the Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The SSP assure responsible breeding for endangered species, such as the babirusa pigs and Asha, the Hartmann’s Mountain zebra foal recently born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Over the last 15 years, Disney animal care experts partnered with reproductive biologists and the SSP to “crack the code” on breeding a babirusa pair. The piglet is making an important contribution toward the worldwide conservation and understanding of the species, which will help ensure a future generation for these vulnerable animals.
PHOTO: © Walt Disney World Resort. All Rights Reserved.
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