Babirusa Piglet Born at the Nashville Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: August 4, 2021 8:30 pm

A babirusa piglet was born at the Nashville Zoo in Tennessee on July 21st 2021

Photo Credit: Amanda Carberry/ Columbus Zoo and Aquairum

Nashville Zoo have introduced a babirusa piglet born on July 21st 2021 to mother Tinsel.

Currently Tinsel and her piglet have been spending time behind the scenes where they are able to bond with some privacy. It is hoped it can make its debut later in the month.

A babirusa piglet was born at the Nashville Zoo in Tennessee on July 21st 2021

Photo Credit: SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Keepers will need to wait for the piglets neonatal exam to determine the sex of the piglet. They will then be able to name the baby babirusa.

Tinsel is an excellent mother and has given birth to piglets before. This is the first babirusa piglet born at the zoo since the species was added to the collection in December 2020.

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Mom, Tinsel spent the day before the birth readying for the new arrival. She kept away from father Dobby and readied for the birth by a building a nest. “She was wallowing in the mud repetitively throughout the day,” said Lead Hoofstock Keeper, Nikole Edmunds. “And was building herself a nest.”

That night she was reluctant to come inside but when she eventually did keepers brought her nest in with her.

The next morning they arrived at work to find the healthy and happy piglet. Sine then Tinsel has proven a protective mother so keepers are giving her space to bond with the new arrival.

A babirusa piglet was born at the Nashville Zoo in Tennessee on July 21st 2021

Photo Credit: SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Babirusa are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are native to forests and wetlands in Indonesia.

These animals are threatened in their home range due to hunting for food, commercial logging and conversion of forest to agriculture. They are a popular delicacy in restaurants and their teeth are used in masks.