THREE of the world’s rarest pigs have been born for the first time at Chester Zoo.

The tiny trio of babirusa piglets arrived to six-year-old mum Kendari following a five-month pregnancy on May 20.

Babirusa are found on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia where their numbers have crashed to fewer than 5,000.

Curator of mammals Tim Rowlands said: “Babirusa are, without question, one of the of the rarest pig species on the planet.

“It’s an animal that’s extremely vulnerable to extinction and under huge pressure for its long term survival.

“We’re fighting alongside Indonesian conservationists and the Indonesian government to reverse the decline of the babirusa in its homeland.

“Chester Zoo is also one of the world leaders in breeding these charismatic pigs.

“By making sure there is a sustainable population in zoos, whose genetic diversity represents the genetic diversity in the wild, the global zoo community can play a vital role in saving this species from extinction.

“Kendari’s new trio of piglets are special additions to the world’s population.”

Given the sensitive nature of the species, mum had been caring for her youngsters in a special behind-the-scenes breeding area.

But now, Kendari has shown off her important, playful newborns for the first time in the zoo’s babirusa habitat.

For more information visit www.actforwildlife.org.uk/conservation-news/reverse-decline-asian-wild-cattle-populations/