Imagine a pig with a leaner, longer-legged build than most farm pigs, a high-set body that can slip through forest trails, and a coat that’s surprisingly “hairy” for a pig—long but sparse hair that can look tawny, brown, or even almost black depending on the individual. It often has a noticeable tuft at the end of the tail, like a small brush. But the feature that steals the show is the male’s tusks: the upper tusks grow up through the top of the snout and curve back toward the forehead, creating a dramatic, crown-like shape. From a distance, it can look like the animal is wearing natural horns, even though they’re actually teeth.

What really distinguishes the Togian babirusa from other babirusa species is its combination of size, hair, and the specific “style” of those famous tusks. It is often described as the largest babirusa, especially in males, and it tends to look more “furred” than the North Sulawesi babirusa, which can appear almost bald with grayish skin. The tusks are also a big clue: in Togian males, the upper tusks are usually shorter and slimmer than the thick, long tusks seen in the North Sulawesi species, and they’re set so they tilt forward and tend to converge toward each other. That converging, forward-leaning look is a handy way to tell it apart in photos.

In behavior, the Togian babirusa is a forest creature with habits that can surprise people who think all pigs behave the same way. It is an omnivore, eating a mix of forest foods such as roots and fallen fruit, and it may also take worms and other small invertebrates when it finds them. One especially fun difference: unlike many pigs that root with their snout like a shovel, Togian babirusas have been observed using their feet to paw and scrape at the ground to uncover food.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Indonesia

<2,500

Official estimate

EN

2016