I always laugh about people, which have done the same with other animals and they were hurt by the animals, bitten off fingers, hands, or the arms, very funny !
The babirussa doesn't seem to mind and can easily wander out of reach. I don't really see a huge problem with this, besides the fact one of them could be bitten.
But if the animals doesn't bite, likes it, and can choose to get pet, why not?
The babirussa doesn't seem to mind and can easily wander out of reach. I don't really see a huge problem with this, besides the fact one of them could be bitten.
But if the animals doesn't bite, likes it, and can choose to get pet, why not?
I understand why there are several negative comments under this pic. But I just can´t see it in that way.
The female babirusa on the pic is Johanka. She was born in Decin and the keepers there always had a very close relationship with their babirusas,all the youngs that were ever produced in that zoo used to be intesively stroken, scratched... by humans. They LOVE it to pieces. Johanka would on less busy days follow the visitors along the fence and press its body against it to animate them into this behaviour. And after she get the attention she will lay down and fully enjoy a massage. The title given to this pic by Sun Wukong is spot on - "In need of affection..."
I think it would be unfortunate if the keepers would try to disable this behaviour. The pen in Jihlava is rather small and boring (a new one will be contructed within 5 years - funds are secured), the visitors (and their stroking hands) is her greatest enrichment. Despite beeing held with several males during her life (right now with the young Kendari) she never bred and most probably she never will. Comments like "it´s stupid" may seem so right from a distant place...
