Walt Disney's Animal Kingdom has recently announced the latest addition to their park in the form of a sweet little piglet — a babirusa piglet, to be exact.
According to a press release from the company, this birth marks a major milestone for the park as it is the first time such a piglet has ever been born at Animal Kingdom.
Her parents, Betty and Mentari, were specifically chosen for breeding in an effort to conserve this particular species which is classified as endangered.
Their breeding was part of the the Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and which ensures responsible breeding for endangered species.
They're native to the swamps and rain forests of the Indonesian Islands. The babirusas at Animal Kingdom actually have some close relatives nearby, such as the warthogs on Kilimanjaro Safaris and the KuneKune pigs at Affection Section.
While Disney World parks continue to eye a July 11 opening, Kiranah remains inside her den with her mom so the two can properly bond together.
In March, the park welcomed the birth of Asha, a Hartmann’s mountain zebra foal who was also born as a result of the SSP breeding program at Disney.
Asha, who's name means “hope” in Sanskrit, and “life” in Swahili, has now joined her mom Heidi at the Kilimanjaro Safaris savanna, and will certainly be a welcome sight for guests when Disney reopens its gates again.
h/t: Disney Parks
