An ‘incredibly rare’ female baby hippopotamus has been born at Edinburgh Zoo.
The tiny, endangered pygmy hippo, named Haggis, arrived on Oct. 30 and zookeepers said her personality had already “begun to shine.”
Pygmy hippos, also known as pygmy hippos, are native to West Africa and experts believe there are only about 2,500 left in the wild worldwide.
In September, a pygmy hippo in Thailand named Moo Deng went viral and was featured in a series of memes due to her stature and chubby proportions.
Jonny Appleyard, ungulate team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Haggis is doing really well so far and it’s amazing to see her personality already starting to shine.”
He added that the zoo’s pygmy hippo house would now be closed for a month because the first 30 days after birth are ‘critical’ for haggis’ development.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN) considers the species endangered due to a number of factors, including habitat loss and the fact that it is hunted for food in Liberia.
Mr Appleyard added: “Although Thailand’s Moo Deng has become a viral global icon, it is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare.
“It’s great to have our own little ambassador here in Edinburgh, who can connect with our visitors and help raise awareness of the challenges the species faces in the wild.”
Parents Otto and Gloria previously welcomed a calf, Amara, in 2022, which subsequently moved to ZSL London Zoo in 2023 as part of a European breeding programme.
Last month, Khao Kheow Open Zoo had to warn visitors against trying to wake Moo Deng after the hippopotamus soared in popularity and caused a surge in visitors to the zoo.
