Zoo Welcomes First Pygmy Hippopotamus Baby And Officials Are Thrilled

Oct 22, 2020

One of the great services provided by zoos is the second chance it gives some animals who are on the edge of extinction. With so many habitats being threatened by human activity and climate change, zoos are sometimes the last stand for many species. While zoos do their best to nurture animals and take care of their basic needs, there is no guarantee that they will be able to reproduce. That's why it is always a celebration when such an event occurs.

On October 5th, Boston's Franklin Park Zoo was the host of the birth of a pygmy hippopotamus. The pygmy hippo was the first baby hippopotamus born at the zoo and caused a celebration among the staff who take care of the animals' veterinary and care needs.

Pygmy hippos make their home in the rainforests of Western Africa. While they were plentiful many years ago, many factors have combined to cause them to be put on the endangered species list, reports the Pygmy Hippo Foundation. These majestic creatures can be found in the African countries of Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Guinea.

Over the years, their homes have been destroyed by a variety of factors. Human settlement has sent these animals scurrying in an attempt to find a new home. They have also been greatly impacted by the logging, farming, and mining industries. All of these elements have shrunk the places where pygmy hippos can live and given them fewer resources to share. This has led to a sharp decline in their population.

The veterinarians and animal care professionals at Franklin Park Zoo had been hoping for a pygmy hippo birth for a while. They had been close on a couple of different occasions. A female hippo named Cleopatra, or Cleo, for short, had been on the brink of bringing new life to the zoo twice earlier, reports NBC Boston.

In 2018, Cleo had a long labor and gave birth to a stillborn baby hippo. While the staff was disappointed, they got great news in 2019 when Cleo was found to be pregnant again. Unfortunately, Cleo once again suffered through a long labor and had another stillborn baby hippo.

The staff at Franklin Park Zoo didn't give up, however, and Cleo got pregnant once again. This time, the staff took precautions to make the pregnancy healthier and safer for Cleo, reports NBC Boston.  Because of Cleo's history with lengthy labors, the veterinarians made the decision to induce her on October 3rd. Another injection was given 24 hours later in the hopes that it would stimulate the female hippo into successfully giving birth.

After the two injections, Cleo's labor began to progress on the afternoon of October 5th. However, the staff decided to manually deliver the calf as the labor wasn't progressing as well as it should have. It wasn't long after that a new pygmy hippo calf was born.

The baby was a male and weighed in at 13 pounds according to Zoo New England's website. “The calf was immediately so bright, strong, and aware, and was holding his head up right away. The calf was introduced to Cleo soon after birth and was nursing within a few hours,” said Dr. Eric Baitchman, Zoo New England Vice President of Animal Health and Conservation.

He added "Each new birth contributes to the continued survival of this endangered species, and we are thrilled by this success. This is the result of years of teamwork and commitment, and I am incredibly proud of the Zoo team."

What did you think of the baby pygmy hippo? Are you concerned about the rise in endangered species all over the world? Show this story to the animal lovers you know and let us know your thoughts on the issues it presents.