DESPITE OF BEING ENDANGERED, BABIRUSA (Babyrousa babyrussa) BORN IN RAGUNAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK
The babirusa, which was born on November 5th 2015, adds the collection of endemic species of Sulawesi in Ragunan Zoological Park. Now there are 5 babirusa live in this conservation area. All the five babirusa are placed in an enclosure, which is set to be very similar to their natural habitat, at the east side of Ragunan Zoological Park. Ragunan Zoological Park is an ex-situ conservation which has successfully managed to breed wild animals, especially endemic species of Indonesia. Some of endemic species of Indonesia which had been successfully bred are Siamang (Gibbon), Owa Jawa (Java Gibbon), Sumateran Tiger, Burung Julang Emas (Wreathed hornbill), Anoa, and Sumatran Elephant.
Babirusa is endemic species of Sulawesi which lies on the Wallace Line. Nantu Wildlife Reserve which is located in Gorontalo is one of the habitas of Babirusa. The population of Babirusa is drastically decreasing from 500 species in 1980’s to 200 species in 2010 (based on the research by Yayasan Adudu Nantu Internasional). The trading of Babirusa and forest encroachment are the main cause, along with illegal logging, shifting cultivation and illegal gold mining.