Rare Pygmy Hippo Calf Born at Athens, Greece Zoo
A rare and endangered pygmy hippo has been born in Athens' Attica Zoological Park which is amazing news because there are reported to be less than 2,500 of these animals in the world.
Plus, this little guy is ridiculously cute.
The pygmy hippo was born on February 19 weighing 15.4 pounds. He's just a baby! This is the first time a pygmy hippo has been born in Athens' Attica Zoological Park 10 years.
Reuters reports that Noi Psaroudaki, the zoo's wildlife veterinarian told the outlet, "This is the first birth in the zoo in 2024, and what a birth!Every captive birth of pygmy hippos is extremely important. We're very happy to see this baby grow into a healthy adult hippo, and hopefully one day reproduce."
Related: Hippo With a Case of the Zoomies at the San Antonio Zoo Is Making People Smile
A lack of male pygmy hippos in captivity had complicated breeding efforts so the fact that this new little one is a boy is hopefully great news for future breeding of these endangered animals.
Facts About Pygmy Hippos
At birth, baby pygmy hippos weight between 10-13 pounds so this little one is a bit bigger than the average. Just like other baby mammals, baby pygmy hippos rely on nursing on their mother's milk for nutrition during their early months. They suckle frequently and may nurse for up to six months or longer. They also stay close to their moms because in the wild they face threats from crocodiles, lions and hyenas. When they are grown, they eat vegetation. The San Diego Zoo explains, "There is much more to learn about the pygmy hippo's herbivorous diet. Researchers believe that they most likely feed on leaves, roots, ferns, and fruits near rivers and streams. Pygmy hippos search for food on the forest floor or in swamps but can stand on their hind legs to reach food higher up in trees if they need to."
The baby pygmy hippo grows quickly, and at 5 months of age is already about 10 times its birth weight!
Pygmy hippos are endangered, and the forests that shelter them are being burned away and cut down. Humans also hunt them for their meat. The ZSL explains, "the fragmentation and destruction of the pygmy hippo's forest habitat due to logging, mining, agro-business expansion and farming activities have brought pygmy hippos into closer contact with humans and as a result they are at much greater risk of being hunted and disturbed by human activities."
If you would like to learn more about Pygmy Hippo conservation, or to make a donation, you can visit the ZSL website here.
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