GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — It’s right here! The John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, says Penelope, a pygmy hippo, birthed a calf on Wednesday.
The unnamed child weighs 11 kilos and is the primary pygmy hippo calf born on the zoo.
“Pygmy hippos are an endangered species with fewer than 2,500 estimated in the wild, so each birth is a vital step for conservation,” the zoo mentioned in a social media put up. “Our animal care team is keeping a close eye on mom and baby as they bond behind the scenes, and both are doing well.”
Each Penelope and the daddy, Jahari, are comparatively new additions to the zoo. The pygmy hippo opened in June 2023 with Jahari. Penelope joined months later after being moved from a zoo in Toronto.
The zoo introduced the being pregnant in early July. The gestation interval sometimes takes between six and 7 months. Pygmy hippos enter their reproductive age after they flip 2 and may carry calves into their early 30s.
