San Antonio Zoo Hails the Arrival of Porky the Newborn Babirusa
Texas – The San Antonio Zoo, home to over 750 species, celebrated the arrival of a bouncing baby Babirusa this week. Dubbed Porky by Zoo officials, the tiny tusked piglet was the first of its species to be born in captivity in the great state of Texas.
Born to first-time parents, but sadly rejected by its mother, the zookeeper’s team had to step up and provide surrogate care to ensure Porky’s survival and well-being. The zookeeper’s team worked around the clock to provide the piglet with round the clock care, bottle-feeding, and keeping him warm under special heat lamps.
The Babirusa, also recognized as deer-pig, is known for its distinctive tusks, which can curve dramatically and grow past a foot in length in males. With only 6,000 babirusas, left in the wild, mainly in Sulawesi, Indonesia, due to deforestation and hunting, the arrival of Porky marks a critical milestone for conservation efforts.
“This is an exciting day for our zoo and the conservation world, and we are thrilled with the opportunity to raise this little one,” said Tim Morrow, CEO, and Executive Director of the San Antonio Zoo. “We hope Porky’s arrival will inspire people to fall in love with these fascinating and rare animals and work towards their protection.”
When asked about the adorable creature, visitors couldn’t stop gushing and clicking pictures of the little one’s fuzzy coat, cute snout, perfectly pointy ears, and unusually long tusks.
Sarah, a 25-year-old college student, who was at the zoo exclaimed, “He’s just so cute. I wish I could take him home with me!” A little girl, Samantha, visiting the zoo with her family, exclaimed, “He’s the best pig ever! I want one for my birthday.”
The zoo added that Porky will remain under human care for at least six months before visitors can interact with him in the zoo’s exhibit area. Meanwhile, the zookeepers have planned an intensive training and development regimen to ensure Porky grows up to be a prominent advocate for the Babirusa community.
We can’t wait to see Porky roam around his enclosure once he’s old enough to explore the zoo with his parents. Congratulations to the San Antonio Zookeepers for a job well done!
