Ecology, Conservation and Management of Wild Pigs and Peccaries

Part II: Species Accounts

80

Reproduction and Growth

Reproduction is poorly known owing to the difficulty of observ-

ing this species in the wild. According to interview surveys in

2001, 29.6 per cent of people stated that this species is gregari-

ous and composed of one adult pair with a litter of two to three

(Akbar et al. 2007). Additionally, direct observations and film

imaging on Malenge Island suggested that litter size is com-

posed of one to two offspring, and young animals follow their

sows for several months after weaning (Figure 8.5; Ito 2003; Ito

et al. 2005). The observations are very few but are similar to the

reproductive patterns of Sulawesi babirusa. Further detailed

observations should be implemented in future to obtain repro-

ductive information such as sexual maturation, breeding sea-

son, gestation period, and growth of piglets.

Behaviour

A few direct observations have been reported: (a) a pioneer-

ing study of five individuals on Pangempan islet on the north

side of Togian Island (Selmier 1983); (b) long-term observa-

tions of more than 10 years on various wildlife species (Akbar

et al. 2007); and (c) observations on Malenge Island (Ito 2003;

Ito et al. 2005). These works indicate that the Togian babirusa

is a social species. During the interview survey in 2001, 37 per

cent of the respondents mentioned that the babirusa is a solitary

animal (Akbar et al. 2007). These lone individuals are mostly

Table 8.1 List of plant species eaten by Togian babirusa in Togian Islands, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Common name Species Family Parts eaten

Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Moraceae Fruits

Cempedak Artocarpus integer Moraceae Fruits

Papaya Carica papaya Caricaceae Fruits

Coconut palm Cocos nucifera Arecaceae Solid endosperm, haustorium

Yam Dioscorea spp. Dioscoreaceae Tubers

Dracontomelon sp. Anacardiaceae Fruits

Elatostema sp. Urticaceae Whole

Mundu Garcinia dulcis Clusiaceae Fruits

Purple mangosteen Garcinia mangostana Clusiaceae Fruits

Water spinach Ipomoea aquatica Convolvulaceae Whole

Sweet potato Ipomoea batatas Convolvulaceae Tuberous roots

Mango Mangifera spp. Anacardiaceae Fruits

Cassava Manihot esculenta Euphorbiaceae Tubers

Banana Musa acuminata Musaceae Fruits

Pangi Pangium edule Achariaceae Fruits

Sugarcane Saccharum spp. Poaceae Stalks

Ambarella Spondias dulcis Anacardiaceae Fruits

Tamarind Tamarindus indica Fabaceae Fruits

Cacao Theobroma cacao Malvaceae Fruits

Maize (corn) Zea mays Poaceae Seeds

Note: This table contains only plant species identified at the species or genus levels. Besides these, various parts of wild and cultivated plants, fungi, inverte-

brates and small vertebrates have been recorded by the local people.

Figure 8.5 A sounder of Togian babirusa, consisting of two adult females and

their offspring (Malenge Island; photo by Masaaki Ito).

males (Figure 8.6; M. Ito, personal observation), although they

can sometimes be aggregated with sounders of adult females

and their offspring. Of the people interviewed, 29.5 per cent

reported group size of more than five individuals, typically com-

posed of an adult male with multiple females and a litter (Akbar

et al. 2007). Sounders up to 11 individuals have been observed

in the wallow sites (Ito et al. 2005).

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