Lowry Park Zoo Welcomes Piglet

Submitted by Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo:

A tiny babirusa piglet, weighing about one pound at birth, is now on exhibit with his mother “Myrtle” in the Zoo’s Asian Gardens habitat area. The Zoo’s first babirusa litter arrived May 13 overnight (Mother’s Day).  A second piglet born in the same litter did not survive.

The babirusa birth is the first for the Zoo, and a significant conservation milestone for the species with fewer than 50 animals in the managed population. The Zoo’s babirusas are members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Wild Pig, Peccary & Hippo Taxon Advisory Group, designed to support the conservation of select wildlife species at risk of extinction. 

Now three weeks old, the male newborn nurses routinely and is well-bonded with mom. The pair is on exhibit for limited hours as the piglet grows and gains strength. The Zoo has two additional babirusas – father “Toomey” and an older female named “Rosie.”

“With just 20 viable breeding pairs of this endangered species in the managed population, each birth is extremely important in our efforts to sustain its viability,” noted Dr. Larry Killmar, VP and director of animal science and conservation. “We are proud to be one of just 14 AZA institutions to have the opportunity to participate in this program.”

Adult male babirusas have a distinct appearance with lower and upper tusks (canines), resembling the antlers of a deer. The name babirusa is translated as “pig deer.” Unlike most pigs, which have large litters, female babirusas have an average of just 1-2 per litter. Piglets are vocal and active within a few days after birth.

The Asian Gardens habitat area, where the babirusas are housed, was made possible by funding from the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.