A new baby babirusa has been born in Animal Kingdom!
Her name is Kirana which means “sunbeam” in Indonesian and its the first one born in Animal Kingdom! Her parents are Betty and Mentari, you might have seen them at the park while you enjoyed a ride on the Kilimanjaro Safari during one of your visits to the Walt Disney World Resort.
Babirusas are an endangered specie, part of the hog family, they are native to the swamps and rainforests of the Indonesian Islands, that’s why the Animal Kingdom team gave her the name of Kirana.
Also did you know male babirusas can grow tusks as long as 17 inches that even go through their snout? Their upper ones can actually grow so much that could penetrate their skin curving back towards their forehead and sometimes back into the skull as well.
This “deer-pig” story is another successful one for Disney’s Animal, Science and Environmental Team as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This plan assures responsible breeding for endangered species such as babirusa pigs and hartmann’s mountain zebras!
The birth of this baby babirusa is a great step toward the worldwide conservation and understanding of the species that will help to ensure a future generation for these vulnerable animals.
So next time you are at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, don’t forget to go on the Kilimanjaro Safari and say hi to Kirana!
Until then, you can learn more about animals at Disney here! Hope you enjoy it.
Credit: Disney Parks Blog
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