UK zoo welcomes rare baby animal that faces extinction... but do YOU know what it is?

By SOPHIA STANFORD, NEWS REPORTER Published: 00:02, 12 August 2026 | Updated: 00:30, 12 August 2026 A rare 'pig-deer' has been born at Chester Zoo in England, as a deadly disease pushes the species towards extinction. Rana is a babirusa - an unusual species of pig found on just four islands in Indonesia - and was the size of a 'grapefruit with legs' when she was born, weighing just a few hundred grams. The piglet's arrival comes as African swine fever devastates babirusa populations in the wild. The species was previously classed as Vulnerable but is set to be uplisted to Critically Endangered following a dramatic decline in numbers. A recent camera-trap study on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, supported by Chester Zoo, recorded babirusas on just two occasions across the whole of 2023 and 2024. Rana is the fifth piglet born to 11-year-old mother Matano, who was also born at Chester Zoo. Hannah Owens, Assistant Team Manager at the zoo, said: 'While babirusas are doing well in our care, I'm worried because they are really struggling in the wild. 'The numbers are radically reducing, and it would be horrendous if they disappeared. Piglets like Rana are a lifeline for the species.' Rana is a babirusa - an rare species of 'pig-deer' - who has been born at Chester Zoo Unlike most pigs, babirusas typically have only one or two piglets at a time, meaning populations can recover slowly after sudden declines. The animals are known as 'pig-deer' because of their distinctive appearance, with the males featuring unusual upper tusks which grow through their snout and curve backwards towards their face. Amy Humphreys, a conservationist at Chester Zoo, said: 'We are in a race against time to understand what's happening to the population. 'We risk losing a truly unique species, one that's an important part of Indonesia's cultural and natural heritage. 'Rana's arrival is worth celebrating. Her birth is a chance to shine a light on babirusas and show people why they deserve protection.'