Pygmy hippos have been endangered for quite some time, but there’s hope on the horizon! The Attica Zoological Park in Athens, Greece had a reason to celebrate after a rare pygmy hippopotamus was born at their zoo for the first time in ten years.
Native to West Africa, pygmy hippos have been listed as an endangered species after their numbers started decreasing due to loss of habitat, poaching, hunting for bushmeat, natural predators, and war. The breeding efforts have been complicated by the lack of male pygmy hippos in captivity, but things are finally looking up at one zoo in Athens.
A rare pigmy hippo was born at the Attica Zoological Park in the Greek capital in February, joining his parents Lizzie and Jamal as the only pygmy hippos at the zoo. Each birth is a reason to celebrate because the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates only about 2,000-2,500 pigmy hippos still live in the wild.
Noi Psaroudaki, the zoo’s wildlife veterinarian, discussed the miraculous moment with Reuters and explained why they were thrilled that the pygmy hippo baby was a boy.
“This is the first birth in the zoo in 2024, and what a birth! Every captive birth of pygmy hippos is extremely important. We’re very happy to see this baby grow into a healthy adult hippo, and hopefully one day reproduce,” she told Reuters.