Edinburgh Zoo welcomes newborn pygmy hippo
Edinburgh Zoo hope Haggis' fame will follow that of Thailand's Moo Deng (pictured)
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo is celebrating the birth of an endangered pygmy hippo calf.
On Wednesday, 30 October, the female calf was born to parents Otto and Gloria. She has been named Haggis.
Haggis is already proving to be healthy and happy, and the zoo’s pygmy hippo house has been closed while the team monitors her early stages.
The pygmy hippo is predominantly native to Liberia in West Africa, where it lives in forests and swamps. However, habitat loss means that there are now only around 2,500 remaining in the wild.
The species has been classified as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Jonny Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Haggis is doing really well so far and it is amazing to see her personality beginning to shine already.
“The first 30 days are critical for her development, so the pygmy hippo house will be closed for now to allow us to keep a close eye on mum and baby at this sensitive time.”
The zoo believes that the recent online success of Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo born in Thailand this year, will inspire interest in Haggis’ birth. Moo Deng quickly became popular across the internet, sparking a newfound recognition for the endangered species.
The team hopes that Haggis will share a similar fame, raising awareness of the rare animal.
Edinburgh Zoo has now launched a prize draw campaign, with one winner getting the chance to take part in a pygmy hippo experience. Alongside RZSS CEO David Field, they will get the opportunity to meet Haggis and her parents in a special encounter.
All donations will contribute to RZSS’ work with protecting endangered animals like Haggis, as RZSS seeks to raise £15,000 for its conservation work.
Mr Appleyard added: “While Thailand’s Moo Deng has become a viral global icon, it is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare.
“It is great to have our own little ambassador right here in Edinburgh to connect with our visitors and help raise awareness of the challenges the species face in the wild.”
To enter the pygmy hippo experience draw, visit this website.
Image © Shutterstock
Joanne Webster, a professor of parasitic diseases at the RVC, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
