Webdunia - Bharat's app for daily news and videos

Install App

Rare hippo species born in Athens Zoo

DW
Wednesday, 20 March 2024 (18:20 IST)
It was the first birth in 2024 for Athens' Attica Zoological Park that made conservationists extremely happy: an endangered and rare potamus is now part of a hippo family in Greece. 
 
The International Union for Conservation of Nature listed pygmy hippos as an endangered species. About 2,000-2,5000 are estimated to live in the wild. Their natural habitats are swamps and rainforests in western Africa. 
 
"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," the zoo's wildlife veterinarian Noi Psaroudaki told Reuters news agency in a report published Wednesday.
 
Calf's name to be decided by vote 
 
One of the reasons that breeding in captivity has been complicated is the lack of male animals. So, the reaction was accordingly when the zoo found out that the little one is a male hippo.
 
The calf was born on February 19 and currently weighs 7 kilograms (15.4 pounds). It has no name yet, as it still has to be decided by vote. The hippo is now joining his parents, Lizzie and Jamal, who are the only ones of their species in the zoo.
 
Baby pygmo hippo will remain with its mother for the next couple of months before it can explore the outdoors enclosure.

Related Article

See All

Top News

Vaibhav Suryavanshi Age Controversy: Youngest IPL crorepati is 15-year-old not 13? Here’s what his father has to say

Rs 639.15 crore spent, 182 players sold in IPL auction

DISGUSTING! Ice cream factory employee licks each ice sticks before packaging in Kerala, video goes viral

Must Read

Landslides and mudslides: Can they be prevented?

Fungi are adapting to body heat — a 'doomsday scenario'

Could a Syrian war criminal be attending Paris Olympics?

Next Article
Show comments