The Babirusa or the Pig Deer is an extremely unusual and ancient member of the pig family that lives in Indonesia. It has pig-like habits such as bathing in mud, but there the resemblance to the domestic pig ends.
The babirusa has fearsome canine teeth in both its upper and lower jaws that grow upwards and out of its mouth to form ‘tusks’. The teeth grow to almost a foot or 30 cm in length. In males, the upper teeth curve so far back that they pierce the top of the snout.
This makes it impossible for Babirusa to nose around in the mud for food like most pigs, so they rely on eating fruits and leaves instead.
Indonesians revere the Babirusa and wear masks modelled on its face during ceremonial dances.