Baby pygmy hippo born at San Diego Zoo, conquers the internet with cuteness

[Judi Lynn]

By Mindy Weisberger - Senior Writer a day ago

Fewer than 2,500 pygmy hippos remain in the wild.



The baby hippo is mama Mabel's first calf.
(Image: © San Diego Zoo)

The San Diego Zoo recently announced its newest (and arguably cutest) arrival: a newborn male pygmy hippo, born on April 9 to its 4-year-old pygmy hippo mama Mabel.

Within hours of birth, the very tubby youngster was standing up and following its mother around, toddling after her in the hippos' indoor habitat, zoo representatives said in a statement.

The baby, which has not yet been named, weighed 12.4 lbs. (5.6 kilograms) at birth and now weighs about 25 lbs. (11 kg). This is the first successful pygmy hippo birth at the zoo in more than three decades, offering hope for the future of this endangered species, according to the statement.

In the maternity "ward" of the hippo habitat, the calf now has access to a pool, after first testing the waters in a shallow tub. Over the last few weeks, the baby demonstrated that it was able to close its nostrils and hold its breath underwater.

More:
https://www.livescience.com/pygmy-hippo-born-zoo.html

[gristy]

1. is there a piano in the enclosure?

I'd think the hippos would be going crazy!

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Adorable.

[Karadeniz]

3. I want one!❤

[smirkymonkey]

4. So cute!