As a rare Australian newborn calf, a tiny Pygmy Hippo shared sex with its mother during her first public appearance at an Australian Zoo, he was able to share a sweet kiss.
Taronga Zoo, Sydney, shared this picture on Friday of the unnamed pygmy hippos in water. She was nuzzling up at her mom Kambiri.
The zoo posted on Facebook, “Just a few hippo kisses to your… afternoon,” “You are so welcomed.
Fergus is Fergus’ father and the first to give birth at the harbourside zoo after four years.
A little pygmy rhino has shared a sweet kiss with her mother, as her tiny baby calf was making her public debut at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.
On Thursday, the newborn pygmy rhinoceros made her Sydney Zoo debut (pictured).
Simon Duffy is Zoo director. He says baby pygmy hippopots ‘are small, delicate watermelons on tiny, little legs.
“They’re so beautiful,” he declared.
For conservation efforts, the arrival of the pygmy is an important landmark Renae Moss, senior keeper for West African endangered species said that it was an urgent situation.
She stated that there are less than 3,000 wild ones, and that every baby born in a zoo helps to increase that number to make sure that the species doesn’t disappear altogether.
After spending the past two weeks under the supervision of her mother, the baby hippo learned to swim and walk in an off-exhibit nursery.
It was exciting for Ms Moss to see her move to the main exhibit. She says that the baby calf initially was hesitant about jumping in the water, but then took the plunge after some encouragement and support from mom.
Kambiri, dad Fergus’ mother, gave birth to the baby pygmy rhino in the fourth year of the zoo.
She stated that as the calves master the art and become more confident swimming, the pool will be deeper and the baby proofing removed.
It is unknown who the tiny calf was named, and the zookeepers have appealed to the public.
Her keepers suggested several options: Amara which means “filled with beauty, grace” and is West African; Sierra, after Sierra Leone, and Sapo, after Sapo National Park, Sinoe County in Liberia.
Two weeks ago, the baby hippo was in an off-exhibit nursery and began to learn how to swim.
Taronga Zoo invites the public to identify the tiny calf
The zoo welcomes suggestions from the public through its website.
The Pygmy Hippos, a West African native species, are solitary and rarely come together to breed.
There are estimated to be between 2,000 to 3,000 pygmy hippos remaining in the wild – classifying the species as endangered, with numbers continuing to decline in the wild.