Party of five at the Los Angeles Zoo’ Chacoan peccary table

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In less then one week last month, four Chacoan peccaries were born at the Los Angeles Zoo. Friday morning, the troop made its debut to zoo visitors.

The Chacoan peccary, a species similar to a pig, is endangered. The zoo’s new litter was born on two days: the first on Thursday, September 11 and a litter of three followed suit five days later on Tuesday, September 16.

Native to Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay, the Chacoan peccary was thought to be extinct until 1972, when Dr. Ralph M. Wetzel of the University of Connecticut, found the species still existed in Paraguay, zoo officials said.

The greatest threats to the Chacoan peccary are brush clearing for cattle and hunting. There are 47 animals in a captive managed program, with only 11 zoos in the U.S. currently exhibiting Chacoan peccaries, according to Los Angeles Zoo spokesman Jason Jacobs.

-- Francisco Vara-Orta