Darren Naish is a science writer, technical editor and palaeozoologist (affiliated with the University of Portsmouth, UK) who mostly works on Cretaceous dinosaurs and pterosaurs. He also studies such things as the 
I like to think that I've done my bit for babirusa promotion. Hopefully you agree. And babirusas could do with lots of promotion - not only are they fascinating and bizarre, they're globally endangered and in real need of protection (if you want to know more, check out Babirusa.org).
I'm pleased to announce that my babirusa articles here at Tet Zoo have not only inspired an endearing cartoon, but something equally fantastic and captivating... a knitted babirusa!
Sasha Kopf - or Tapir Girl, if you prefer - mostly knits tapirs (as you can see from her collection of photos here). She's produced versions of all.... currently recognised.... extant tapir species. Wow. Already I'm impressed (and wondering how I can get one: preferably a Malayan :) ). But - oh my god - she was inspired enough by Tet Zoo to produce a babirusa! Thank you Sasha, babirusas worldwide are in your debt.
For previous babirusa articles see...
- The deer-pig, the Raksasa, the only living anthracothere... welcome to the world of babirusas
- Are anthracotheres alive and well and living on Sulawesi? No, but it was a nice idea. Babirusas, part II
- What's with the bizarre curving tusks? Babirusas, part III
- When babirusas fight (babirusas, part IV)
- This little piggy went ploughing (babirusas, part V)
- The many babirusa species (babirusas, part VI)
- Laissez-faire lumping under fire? (babirusas, part VII)
- Babirusas can get impaled by their own teeth: that most sought-after of objects does exist! (babirusas, part VIII)
- The author caricatured. His trusty steed: a babirusa!
Coming next: cuckoo-rollers!
Comments
HA thats brilliant!
Posted by: Neil | March 28, 2010 5:23 PM
So cute! I want one :)
Posted by: Erika | March 28, 2010 5:47 PM
Awesome knitting!
Posted by: Lilian Nattel | March 28, 2010 6:32 PM
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/creepy-crochetdermy/20414
Posted by: mrcreosote | March 28, 2010 7:25 PM
Astounding!
Posted by: Albertonykus | March 28, 2010 7:52 PM
That's so cute!
Posted by: Hai~Ren | March 28, 2010 8:34 PM
I wonder what the tusks are made of. That's really first-rate work!
Posted by: Zach Miller | March 28, 2010 8:46 PM
Hi - I'm the Tapir Girl who made the babirusa. I'm glad you like it! The tusks are cut from a plastic yogurt container - there's nothing like genuine plastic yogurt container ivory!
I've finally set up a little shop on Etsy, so if you're interested in having a babirusa or a tapir of your very own, that's the place to go. http://tinyurl.com/ybghgdh Part of the proceeds from the sales of tapirs will go to tapir research and preservation efforts, and I'd love to do the same for the babirusas, if anyone has ideas of where the funds would best be directed.
Posted by: Tapir Girl | March 28, 2010 10:12 PM
Great work Tapir Girl!
This may be a happily growing trend. A friend of mine also knits animals; red river hogs, tapirs, okapis, whales, vicunas ...you name it! Don't know whether you can access this link, but you can see them here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=562151419&aid=2148&s=0&hash=d95a0315681c4faf8b91a7a33be220be
Cheers!
Posted by: Ungulate Dave | March 29, 2010 4:56 AM
Adorable! I want to knit one too.
Posted by: Rosel | March 29, 2010 8:01 AM
Now, waiting for the world's first knitted anteater!
Posted by: Jerzy | March 29, 2010 5:10 PM
TapirGirl and friends: I know knitters on Ravelry.com who would be VERY interested in purchasing patterns (hint ;). Totally lovable!
Posted by: Chris | March 30, 2010 12:05 PM
check out www.tapirback.com too. They have all sorts of stuff on there.
Posted by: seabold | March 31, 2010 12:44 PM