Habitat

Generally associated with tropical rainforests on the island of Sulawesi, and more specifically associated with swamp and riverine areas.

Diet

Although poorly studied in the wild, observations of captive animals revealed that their diet seems to be relatively varied, including a wide variety of leaf, root, and fruit material, and small mammals and birds.

Behaviour

A social species, generally, seen in groups of up to 13 individuals. The small groups are usually constituted of several females and their offspring. Males are often solitary, but may occasionally join a female group or form a bachelor group. Very little is known about the ranging behaviour of the species. Field observations suggest that the adult males have home ranges that overlap with those of several other adult males. B. celebensis appears to be mostly diurnal, spending most of their time foraging.

Threats

Primarily human hunting and habitat loss due to commercial logging and spread of other land-uses resulting in forest conversion and degradation.

Conservation Actions

Although Sulawesi babirusa occurs in several protected areas of various levels on Sulawesi, a decline of the population has been reported. The genus Babyrousa was accorded full protection under Indonesian law in 1931. Under its original taxonomic designation, B. babirussa, the species has been included on Appendix I of CITES since 1982, although international trade in this species is not thought to be an important issue.

IUCN WPSG Projects

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