Endangered Pygmy Hippo Calf Born at Virginia Zoo
The arrival of this baby hippo strengthens the zoo's commitment to safeguarding endangered wildlife
- Pygmy hippos are critically endangered, with fewer than 2,500 mature individuals remaining in the wild
- The calf was born in water on December 9 after a seven-month gestation
- This birth adds to the zoo's ongoing efforts to protect and preserve the pygmy hippo species
A rare and endangered pygmy hippo calf has been born at the Metro Richmond Zoo in Moseley, Virginia. The female calf, born on December 9 to parents Iris and Corwin, is the couple’s third offspring in just over four years, all of which have been females. This marks the second time the pair has welcomed a calf just before the holiday season.
Born after a seven-month gestation period, the baby hippo entered the world in water, a natural birth setting for common hippos, though pygmy hippos can be born on land or in water. Some lucky zoo visitors and staff witnessed the birth around 4:50 p.m. on December 9.
At her five-day checkup, the unnamed calf weighed in at 15 pounds. While pygmy hippos are small at birth, they can grow up to 600 pounds as adults. Native to the swamps and rivers of West Africa, fewer than 2,500 mature pygmy hippos remain in the wild, making every birth an important step in their conservation.
