The happy hippo couple Algon and Francesca, who live at the San Diego Zoo, welcomed a new baby on Wednesday, November 11.
The little hippo weighed 12lb 2oz, and is the first surviving pygmy hippo to be born in the Zoo in more than a decade.
Pygmy hippos are native to West Africa, where habitat destruction, political unrest, and trafficking in exotic animals has put them on the endangered species list. The last count was more than 10 years ago, at which time there were only 2,000 of the animals left on earth.
Less positive news came from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park this weekend, with white rhino Nola having to be put down. Veterinarians were finally able to locate the source of a hip infection that had been bothering the 41-year-old rhino, meaning Nola was able to walk immediately following the procedure, but her condition worsened afterwards.
The Safari Park has recently announced that it will be working with Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy to save the northern white rhino. There are now only three of the animals left on earth: two females and one male in Ol Pejeta. The two facilities will use reproductive technologies in an effort to save the species.
Park officials could create Brochures for Mailing to area residents, asking for support and updating them on rescue efforts to do with rhinos.
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