‘No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses’: Virginia zoo gets rare hippo for Christmas
Heather Hamilton
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A rare and endangered pygmy hippopotamus was born at a Virginia zoo just in time for Christmas.
The female calf was born on Dec. 6 at the Metro Richmond Zoo and weighed 16 pounds.
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“Christmas came early at the zoo! We did indeed receive a hippopotamus for Christmas this year,” the Metro Richmond Zoo said in a statement.
The calf has yet to be named, and the zoo is asking for the public’s help on Facebook.
Pygmy hippos are considered to be one of the world’s rarest mammals, according to the World Animal Foundation. They are also listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
“With less than 2,500 mature individuals left in the wild, their survival in zoological parks is more certain than their survival in the wild,” the zoo added. “This birth plays an important role in helping protect this fascinating and rare species.”
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Wild pygmy hippos are only found in a few African countries.
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The pygmy hippo is known for its shorter legs, lighter weight, and more compact build. A full-grown pygmy hippo is likely to only weigh as much as 600 pounds — about half the size of common hippopotamuses.
The mother and calf are being kept in a private enclosure at the Metro Richmond Zoo but will soon move to an indoor pool exhibit where guests can watch the new hippo start swimming.