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Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park just hosted an adorable birthday celebration for one of its youngest residents, and you have to see the photos!
Nutmeg, the second babirusa piglet ever to be born at Animal Kingdom, just turned one, and Disney just shared that she celebrated the occasion with family and special treats.
Credit: Disney
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The one-year-old piglet was born last fall, where she made her first on-stage appearance alongside mom and the rest of the Park’s babirusas in the Oasis Exhibits.
Nutmeg’s birth (along with the birth of Kirana in 2020) were recommended to Disney’s Animal, Sciences, and Environment team by the AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) to help offset dwindling numbers of these animals in the wild.
Babirusa pigs, which can be found in the swamps and rainforests of Indonesia, are considered a vulnerable species. Habitat destruction is the major culprit for decreases in their population in the wild, so breeding and educational programs like those found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are essential for the species.
Credit: Disney
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These animals are known for their snouts and tusks that are able to grow to almost 17 inches! The Oasis Exhibits are their only home in Animal Kingdom, but if you enjoyed seeing Nutmeg and the other babirusas, you might want to visit their close relatives as well, including the warthogs on Kilimanjaro Safaris and the KuneKune pigs at Affection Section.
The matchmaking process that has led to two babirusa births at the Disney Park is also covered in the Disney+ documentary series, Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (2021). The series has been renewed for a second season, too, with no release date confirmed so far.
Kirana, the first babirusa piglet born in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, was welcomed to the world in May 2020. Both piglets’ birthdays have been the result of Disney’s work with the Species Survival Plan through the AZA, which seeks to ensure numbers continue to increase for endangered species around the world. Disney’s animal care team had been working with reproductive biologists for several years to “crack the code” on babirusa breeding, so both births at the theme park are seen as a massive success in the animal science community.
Credit: Disney
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You can see Nutmeg and the other babirusas during your next trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom by keeping your eyes peeled in the Oasis Exhibits as you enter the Park and make your way toward Discovery Island. And, you can support these animals by contributing to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund. Supporting the fund is as easy as rounding up your change at any quick-service dining or merchandise location at the theme park. Disney will match each donation and cover all of the fund’s overhead costs, so you can be assured your support will go directly to nonprofits that support animals around the world.
