PREVIEW

A rare “pig-deer” has been born at a zoo in England as a deadly disease pushes the species towards extinction.

Tiny Rana is a babirusa – an unusual species of pig found on just four islands in Indonesia.

She was the size of a “grapefruit with legs” when she was born at Chester Zoo in northwest England, weighing just a few hundred grams.

Her arrival comes as African swine fever devastates babirusa populations in the wild.

The species was previously classed as Vulnerable but is set to be uplisted to Critically Endangered following a dramatic decline in numbers.

The disease reached the Indonesian islands where babirusas live around five years ago.

A recent camera-trap study on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, supported by Chester Zoo, recorded babirusas on just two occasions across the whole of 2023 and 2024.

Rana is the fifth piglet born to 11-year-old mother Matano, who was also born at Chester Zoo.

Hannah Owens, Assistant Team Manager at the zoo, said: “When she was born, she was tiny – about the size of a grapefruit, with legs.

“While babirusas are doing well in our care, I'm worried because they are really struggling in the wild.

“The numbers are radically reducing, and it would be horrendous if they disappeared.

“Piglets like Rana are a lifeline for the species.”

Unlike most pigs, babirusas typically have only one or two piglets at a time, meaning populations can recover slowly after sudden declines.

The animals are known as “pig-deer” because of their distinctive appearance. Males have unusual upper tusks which grow through their snout and curve backwards towards their face.

Chester Zoo is working with conservationists in Indonesia to monitor and protect surviving populations.

Amy Humphreys, a conservationist at Chester Zoo, said: “We are in a race against time to understand what’s happening to the population.

“We risk losing a truly unique species, one that’s an important part of Indonesia’s cultural and natural heritage.

“Rana’s arrival is worth celebrating. Her birth is a chance to shine a light on babirusas and show people why they deserve protection.”