This sculpture is part of our Eternity of Remarkable Species collection where we capture the astonishing beauty of endangered animals in a static state. For this collection, we source species such as the Babirusa that are endangered or threatened by human impact. We want to put these species in a shining spotlight to raise awareness of their vulnerability, and beauty, at the same time.

The babirusa, which translates to “deer-pig” in Indonesian is part of the Swine family that is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. This remarkable species is known for its prehistoric appearance due to its prominent tusks. Sometimes they grow so far inwards that they pierce the skin!

All species of babirusa are currently listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List and thus killing them is illegal in most cases. Unfortunately, poaching for their bushmeat as well as the skull remains the biggest threat to the babirusa. And it doesn’t help that the commercial logging of their habitat reduces cover, making the babirusa more exposed to poachers. Low conservation awareness, widespread poverty (creating an incentive to kill for money) and poor law enforcement add insult to injury.

The babirusa seeks shelter in the Nantu Forest Reserve, one of Sulawesi’s few remaining rainforests. The reserve is surrounded by more than a thousand small farmers, and with local income levels being as low as $70 a month, these villagers as well as outsiders turn to destructive forest practises such as rafting illegal timber, illegal gold-mining, slash-and-burn forest clearance, and wildlife poaching for income. It’s safe to say thatpoverty is directly contributing to climate change.Helping communitieslike these lift out of poverty andcreate alternative, environmentally sustainable practicessuch as cacao-farming andpromoting ecotourismcould promise future horizons.

Dimensions
Height: 20 cm / 8 inches
Width: 17 cm / 7 inches
Length: 29 cm / 11.5 inches
Weight: 2700 gr / 6 pounds

Dutch Design
Designer: Jake Richmond / Dutch Design
Concept: Eva van Stekelenburg
Origin: Indonesia
Date/Period: 2020
Materials: Recycled Bronze, MDF
The skull is displayed on a custom-fit black base, made from wood and steel. It can be detached from the base if desired.

Sustainability
All of our bronze sculptures, including this polished bronze Babirusa skull in bronze, are made from upcycled metals such as old pipelines. Our craftsmen and women collect this scrap waste which they then put in an oven at very high temperatures. Once the scrap waste pieces melt, the new raw material is ready to be used. We then use this virgin material to make our bronze sculptures. As bronze is a very eco and labour-intensive material to mine, we feel it makes much more sense to reuse the material that has already been created than to extract it – again. By doing so we are trying to close at least one waste loop.