EDINBURGH Zoo has welcomed a pygmy hippo calf just hours after publicly announcing the mother’s pregnancy the same day.
Keepers at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland‘s Edinburgh Zoo had anticipated a wait of several weeks before the arrival, but staff arrived on Friday morning to discover the newborn alongside mother Gloria.
The calf is currently off-show while the pair spend time bonding, feeding, and resting.
Jonny Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “It was a real surprise to come in and find a new face tucked up with mum.
“Our main aim right now is to give them some private time until they show signs they are ready to meet the world.”
The new arrival is the latest addition to the zoo’s hippo enclosure, joining father Otto and sisters Amara, born in 2021, and Haggis, who arrived in 2024.
Jonny added: “We were expecting a week or two of calm after announcing Gloria’s pregnancy but nature had other ideas. It was a real surprise to come in and find a new face tucked up with mum.
“We hope to be able to confirm the wee one’s gender following upcoming health checks.
“Gloria and baby (sic) are having some well-deserved rest with visitors able to start spotting the pair in the coming days.
“Visitors should check the zoo’s social media channels for news on when the Pygmy hippo house will be open for well-wishers.”
Pygmy hippopotamuses are native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, primarily Liberia.
The species is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
It is estimated that just 2,500 remain in the wild due to ongoing habitat loss.
Visitors will be able to view the new calf and mother Gloria once keepers determine they are settled and confident.
Father Otto remains on show to the public.
- This article or a part of it is provided by the news agency Deadline News Limited and published here with permission.
- Contact Deadline News Limited if you would like to use any or all of this article.
