Hippo Mojo Blog » Baby hippos

New Baby at Basel Zoo

Hippo Honcho — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 02:17:06 +0000

On November 26th, the Basel Zoo in Switzerland was happy to welcome a new baby hippo to its roster. Parents Helvetia and Wilhelm are guarding their infant closely and have refused to allow zoo staff near their precious new baby to determine its sex. So staffers are following the baby around trying to peer at his underparts while keeping away from their two-ton parents.

They also have been trying to observe how the little hippo pees which can help them determine his sex. The birth was a surprise as staffers didn’t even know that Helvetia was pregnant. This is the third baby for Helvetia and Wilhelm, proving that although the zoo staff may not be witnessing the act of hippo love, the hippos certainly are doing it.

New Baby Hippo at Basel Zoo

New Baby at Basel Zoo

Once the hippo’s gender is discovered, the zookeeper will name the baby, most likely choosing a Swahili word.

Imani the Baby Hippo

Hippo Honcho — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:09:06 +0000

Imani is a female hippo born on May 11th 2007 at Antwerp Zoo (Belgium). Her Mom is Hermien and Dad is Heini. Imani means “faith” in Swahili. Check out this video of her. She has the cutest little white feet!

Yet Another Baby Hippo!!! Welcome Baby Lola

Hippo Honcho — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:19:16 +0000

Marwell Zoo in the UK welcomes little baby hippo Lola to their welcoming home.

Here are a couple of YouTube videos of her:

Here’s a great article on little Lola: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1092810/Pictured-The-rare-baby-hippo-taking-wobbly-steps-watchful-eye-mother.html.

And a link to the zoo website: http://www.marwell.org.uk/Lolaname.asp

Baby Hippo Paula Born in German Zoo

Hippo Honcho — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:55:08 +0000

Hippo fans across the world celebrate the birth of baby hippo Paula at the Berlin Zoo. 33-year-old mom Kathi is doing well after the birth of her second hippo calf at the end of November.

Here is a link to an article about the birth with great pictures and video: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1096345/VIDEO-Big-mamma-hippo-shows-adorable-new-calf-Paula-taking-swim.html.

And a video from YouTube:

Baby Pygmy Hippo Born in Australia Zoo

Hippo Honcho — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 00:56:08 +0000

Okay, put this baby pygmy hippo on my Christmas list. Her name is Monifa (meaning ‘I am lucky’ in Nigerian) and she is a cute little bundle of joy. She had a difficult birth and her weak state and subsequent rejection by her mother prompted zoo caretakers to hand raise her.

Here is her debut video at three weeks:

Zoo officials at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo have waited 23 years for this pygmy hippo birth. Pygmy hippos are on the endangered list, with only about 3,000 in the wild. At her birth, Monifa weighed less than 4kg and measures 50cm. In a few years she’ll grow to 300kg.

Pygmy hippopotamus are nocturnal, secretive, forest-dwelling animals and are rarely ever seen, being one-fifth the size of their larger cousins. They are solitary creatures who live in the swamps and forests of western Africa. Because they are so reclusive, most of the research recorded about the species has been learned from those cared for in zoos.

And here is an article about Monifa with some great pictures: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1083874/Pictured-The-baby-pygmy-hippo-brings-new-hope-endangered-species.html?ITO=1490.

And a press release from her home zoo: http://www.taronga.org.au/taronga-zoo/news/media-releases/pygmy-hippo-baby.aspx.