Endangered Pygmy Hippo Born at Virginia Zoo

The Richmond Zoo welcomed a healthy female pygmy hippo calf, born to parents Iris and Corwin, marking a vital contribution to the conservation of this rare species.

The baby pygmy hippo was born on December 9, 2024, after a seven-month gestation and weighed 15 pounds at her neonatal exam five days later.
This is the third calf for parents Iris and Corwin in under five years, and the second to arrive during the holiday season.
The birth is significant for conservation efforts, as pygmy hippos are endangered with fewer than 2,500 mature individuals remaining in the wild.
Unlike common hippos, pygmy hippos can give birth on land or in water; this was Iris' first water birth, which occurred in the zoo's indoor pool enclosure.
The calf and her mother are currently bonding in a private hay-bedded enclosure and will be reintroduced to the public exhibit soon, with a public poll underway to name the newborn.