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Chapter 8: Togian babirusa Babyrousa togeanensis (Sody, 1949)Habitat
The Togian Islands have high biodiversity. The terrestrial eco-
system in this archipelago is characterized by lowland tropi-
cal forest comprising evergreen forest in larger islands such as
Batudaka and partly monsoon forest in smaller islands such as
Malenge (Indrawan et al. 2006). Along the coasts, 33 species
of mangrove, seagrass bed and all four known types of coral
reefs (atoll, fringing, barrier, and patch reefs) can be observed
(Surjadi & Supriatna 1998).
Thousands of plant species in the forests include rattans,
timber species with economic value such as Moluccan ironwood
(Intsia bijuga), Shorea sp., Heritiera sp., edible species like sago
palm (Metroxylon sagu), durian (Durio zibethinus), several spe-
cies of figs (Ficus spp.), mundu (Garcinia dulcis), horse mango
(Mangifera foetida), sugar palm (Arenga pinnata), and New
Guinea walnut (Dracontomelon dao) (Indrawan et al. 2006; M.
Ito, personal observation).
These tropical forests support a variety of wildlife spe-
cies including Tonkean macaque (Macaca tonkeana, syn.
M. togeanus), Sulawesi bear cuscus (Ailurops ursinus, syn.
Phalanger ursinus), spectral tarsier (Tarsius tarsier, syn. T. s p e c-
trum), rusa deer (Rusa timorensis, syn. Cervus timorensis), Togian
boobook (Ninox burhani), knobbed hornbill (Rhyticeros cassi-
dix), Togian water monitor (Varanus togianus, syn. V. salvator
togianus) and coconut crab (Birgus latro) (Indrawan et al. 2006;
Akbar et al. 2007; M. Ito, personal observation). One of the most
important environmental factors for the presence of babirusa
is the availability of water throughout the year for wallowing as
well as drinking. This species is found in various habitats such as
primary and secondary tropical rainforests, mixed gardens,
coconut plantations, freshwater and mangrove swamps and
other coastal habitats. This species is more often sighted in
mixed gardens and coconut plantations than forest (Akbar et al.
2007); however, it is not clear whether it is more abundant in the
former, or simply more often seen.
Movements and Home Range
Detailed studies to estimate the home range of this species have
not been carried out. However, video images of a sequence of
wallowing behaviour on Malenge Island demonstrated that soli-
tary adult males and sounders consisting of adult females with
their juveniles frequently use a specific freshwater swamp in the
dry season (August 2002; Ito 2003; Ito et al. 2005). This suggests,
at least during the dry season, that their home ranges may over-
lap in the swamp habitat, although it is unknown if this happens
during the wet season. In addition, according to the local peo-
ple, this species was observed crossing the straits between three
islands, Malenge, Togian, and Talatakoh (Selmier 1983; Akbar
et al. 2007; Ito 2008). Therefore, it has been recorded that home
range is not only limited to a small island, but can be expanded
to neighbouring islands.
Activity Patterns
Togian babirusa is mainly active in the morning and late
afternoon. According to an interview survey with local farm-
ers (Akbar et al. 2007), most respondents (68.2 per cent)
encountered the babirusa in the morning, between 0600 and 1000
am. During the hot daytime, they rest while dipping the body in
wallowing mud or lying to snuggle up to each other in the wet
ground under the shade of a tree (M. Ito, personal observation).
However, their behaviours are observed even in the daytime, not
only in the interior of the forest but also in the cultivated field and
coconut plantation if human pressure and disturbance are low
(Selmier 1983; Ito et al. 2005; Akbar et al. 2007).Feeding Ecology
Like other suids, Togian babirusa is omnivorous and consumes a
wide variety of food sources. There is an abundance of potential
food in the Togian Islands and the plants recorded include tubers
of yam, tuberous roots of sweet potato and cassava, fallen fruits of
pangi (Pangium edule), mango (Mangifera spp.), Dracontomelon
sp., jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), cempedak (Artocarpus
integer), ambarella (Spondias dulcis), purple mangosteen
(Garcinia mangostana), mundu (Garcinia dulcis), tamarind,
cacao, papaya, banana, coconut, maize, millet, various mush-
rooms, annual herbs Elatostema sp., water spinach (Ipomoea
aquatica), sugarcane, and other vegetables cultivated in the local
garden (Selmier 1983; Ito et al. 2005; Akbar et al. 2007; M. Ito, per-
sonal observation; see Table 8.1). In addition, invertebrates such
as worms and larva of beetles in rotten stems of sago palm and
small vertebrates are additional food resources recorded by local
farmers. Because both pangi fruits and cassava roots contain cya-
nogenic glycosides, cyanide can be produced when hydrolysed by
enzymes in the stomach and intestine. Therefore, after they have
eaten them, the babirusa can neutralise the toxicity in some way.
It is important to note that this species eats coconut ‘meat’
(kernel, solid endosperm) and coconut ‘apple’ (haustorium)
that is a spongy mass growing in the seed cavity. Although
they have difficulty crushing the hard shell of intact coconut
fruits, they can take pieces of the endosperm and haustorium
scattered on the ground during the first days of the copra pro-
duction in the coconut plantation. In this period farmers pre-
pare these fruits by cracking the shell and removing seedling
and haustorium to expose the endosperm. During the night,
Togian babirusa use these sites as additional food resources. In
addition, local people state that this species eats the discarded
pomace that remains after the grated coconut endosperm has
been squeezed to extract the coconut milk. It is interesting to
note that farmers believe that the sound of rubbing the coco-
nut shell becomes the signal for this species to associate copra
production with food. Togian babirusa may also be attracted to
these sites when other wild animals, for example, the Tonkean
macaque, use the plantation for foraging. The leftovers of coco-
nut and partially damaged coconut fruits can be eaten by the
babirusa, but this opportunity needs further investigation. The
coconut fruit and pangi fruits are one of the most important
food resources for this species. According to the USDA National
Nutrient Database (2015), 100 g of coconut meat contains 354
kilocalories, 33 g of total fat, 15 g of carbohydrates and 3.3 g of
protein with a high content of many essential nutrients that are
very attractive for the species. Other babirusas are also thought
to consume the coconut where copra is still produced by the
traditional technique..01012:33:30