Virginia Zoo Names Endangered Baby Pygmy Hippo 'Poppy' After Global Vote

The newborn hippo, born on December 9, 2024, is the third calf of parents Iris and Corwin and represents a critical step for species conservation.

Poppy, a female pygmy hippo born at the Metro Richmond Zoo Virginia, was named through an online poll with over 116,000 votes from 165 countries.
The name Poppy, which won with 52.8% of the vote, is a nod to her mother Iris, continuing a flower-themed naming tradition in the family.
Poppy is the third calf born to Iris and Corwin in the past 4.5 years, and her birth marks the first time Iris gave birth underwater.
Pygmy hippos are an endangered species native to West Africa, with fewer than 2,500 mature individuals remaining in the wild due to habitat loss and human activities.
The zoo highlights Poppy’s birth as a significant contribution to conservation efforts, with plans to move her to an outdoor habitat once she grows and the weather improves.