Riverbanks Welcomes Female Babirusa

Ah, a match made in zoo heaven.

Bertello, a male Babirusa at Riverbanks, now has a female, Wilma, to keep him company.

Wilma comes to Riverbanks from St. Louis Zoo based on a species survival plan.

“We are excited to finally have a suitable match for Bertello,” said John Davis, curator of mammals at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “Since her arrival at Riverbanks, keepers have been gradually introducing Wilma to her new home and after a six month adjustment period, she and Bertello are now ready to go on exhibit as a pair.”

Babirusas, native to Indonesia, are members of the pig family that have hairless bodies and think, wrinkly skin.

In the wild, these animals live in moist, tropical forests and along the shores of rivers and lakes, according to a Zoo press release.