A ridiculously cute new resident has just arrived in the city, and she’s already receiving an outpouring of love from the local community.
Just as adorable as viral sensation Moo Deng, the Toronto Zoo has officially announced the birth of an endangered female pygmy hippopotamus calf, born on Sunday morning to 20-year-old mother Kindia and 31-year-old father Harvey.
Native to the dense forests and swamps of West Africa, pygmy hippos are significantly smaller than their river-dwelling cousins and are currently listed as endangered. With only an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 remaining in the wild due to habitat loss and human activity, this newborn represents a monumental milestone for the species.
Following roughly 90 minutes of active labour, the tiny calf was delivered healthy and hit the ground running, attempting to stand within 15 minutes of birth and confidently exploring her space shortly after. Remote monitoring cameras have already captured the calf nursing and bonding closely with her mother.
While the newborn is not ready to meet her adoring public just yet, she and Kindia are currently resting behind the scenes in their private space at Little Hippo Hollow. Zoo care teams will continue monitoring the pair around the clock during these important first days to ensure both mom and baby stay healthy.
Details regarding when the baby hippo will make her official public debut, along with updates on any upcoming naming announcements, will be shared by the zoo in the coming weeks.
You can keep an eye on the Toronto Zoo’s official website and social media channels for photos, videos, and real-time updates on the newborn.
