RICHMOND, Va. — Earlier this month, a pygmy hippopotamus gave birth to a healthy calf at the Metro Richmond Zoo, marking the third such birth at the zoo in the last five years.
The mother, named Iris, delivered the female calf on December 9, after a gestation period of seven months. This newborn, who is yet to receive a name, is the third calf from Iris and the father, Corwin. Notably, this calf is also the second one born in December, as confirmed by zoo officials.
“Receiving a hippopotamus for Christmas is something most people don’t experience, so we consider ourselves fortunate to welcome two over the years,” stated zoo representatives in a recent announcement.
Just five days post-birth, the calf underwent a neonatal examination and weighed in at 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms). According to the zoo, adult pygmy hippos can reach weights of up to 600 pounds (270 kilograms).
The Richmond zoo highlights that pygmy hippos are an endangered species native to West Africa, with only about 2,500 mature individuals left in the wild. Unlike their larger relatives, pygmy hippos tend to be more solitary creatures and prefer to live alone or in pairs.
Due to this solitary nature, when Iris’ previous calves matured, they were transferred to other zoos to find mates and assist in the ongoing conservation efforts for their species, as noted in the announcement.