‘Precious’: Rare and endangered hippo calf born at ZooTampa
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Welcome to the world, little one! ZooTampa is celebrating its latest arrival — a rare and endangered pygmy hippo calf.
The zoo announced Thursday that its newest resident, who’s yet to be named, was born on Easter Sunday. The female calf and her mother, 20-year-old Zsa Zsa, are “doing well.”
The baby hippo appears to be strong and is nursing alongside her mother. The calf’s birth marks just the fifth endangered pygmy hippo calf born at ZooTampa.
Photo courtesy: ZooTampa Photo courtesy: ZooTampa Photo courtesy: ZooTampa Photo courtesy: ZooTampa Photo courtesy: ZooTampa Photo courtesy: ZooTampa Photo courtesy: ZooTampa Photo courtesy: ZooTampa
“We are very excited to welcome this healthy female calf to ZooTampa,” Senior VP of Zoological Operations Chris Massaro said. “Conservation efforts for species like the pygmy hippo take lots of work and require collaboration across international boundaries. Every birth is a sign of hope and helps save endangered species for future generations to enjoy, appreciate, and cherish.”
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Zsa Zsa was paired with 22-year-old male and first-time dad Howie as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP), which ensures the survival of protected, threatened, and endangered species. ZooTampa currently participates in over 100 SSP programs.
Fewer than 3,000 pygmy hippos are left in the wild in four countries of West Africa, the zoo said. Over the past 100 years, the hippo’s habitat has “declined dramatically” as a result of logging, farming, mining, and human settlement.
The pygmy hippo is related to the river hippopotamus but is a different species. While they may look similar, they share few characteristics.
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