A U.S. Zoo Gets a Hippopotamus for Christmas! Pygmy Hippo Born in December Makes Public Debut

Mar. 15, 2025

A newborn pygmy hippo born at Metro Richmond Zoo on Dec. 9.Photo:Metro Richmond Zoo

Metro Richmond Zoo

Two pygmy hippos in Virginia celebrated Christmas with a new family member.

The hippo couple’s most recent newborn — who has yet to be named — isn’t the first calf they have welcomed around the holidays.

The newborn pygmy hippo with her mother, Iris.Metro Richmond Zoo

“Most people don’t get a hippopotamus for Christmas at all, so we feel lucky to have received two over the years,” the zoo’s announcement read.

Shortly after the birth, the zoo moved Iris and her newborn to a private “cozy” enclosure to give them room to bond. The zoo added that the mother-child duo will eventually return to the indoor pool area, which is visible to zoo guests. The Metro Richmond Zoo is the only place in Virginia where the public can visit hippos, the release noted.

The pygmy hippo, native to wet areas in West Africa, was declared an endangered species in 1993, when an estimated 2,000-2,500 individuals made up the species' population, according toPygmy Hippo Conservation.

“Less than 2,500 mature individuals remain in the wild. This birth — like all of Iris' births — plays an important role in helping protect this rare and elusive species,” the zoo’s site read.

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The zoo stated that pygmy hippos don’t live in groups. Thus, to preserve the species further, Iris' older children were transferred to other zoos and animal facilities “to live with future mates and continue contributing to the conservation of their species.”

source: people.com