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Zoo News
Edinburgh Zoo welcomes a precious gift
2 July 2009
Keepers at Edinburgh Zoo are celebrating the birth of a pygmy hippopotamus. Leishan, whose name means ‘gift’ in West African, was born on 9 June. She is the offspring of Ellen and Otto and is the first baby for this new breeding pair.
Pygmy hippos are only found in West Africa, where they are now critically endangered. Their primary threat is the loss of their forest habitat due to the timber industry. They are also extensively hunted for their meat.
Darren McGarry, Animal Collection Manager at Edinburgh Zoo, who also sits on the European Endangered Programme (EEP) Committee for this species, said:
“A pygmy hippo baby is an exciting addition for us. This baby will be very popular with visitors to Edinburgh Zoo this summer. Its birth will also contribute to the sustainable breeding of the pygmy hippo species both in UK and Europe. Edinburgh Zoo is only one of a few zoos in the UK to care for this species and we have a particularly successful breeding record, having produced 16 hippo calves in less than 30 years.
“Ellen is proving to be a great mum to Leishan. The calf has gradually been gaining weight and
she is now old enough to begin exploring her enclosure and can been seen by visitors.”
Photo call for baby hippo
Editor’s Notes
About Pygmy Hippos
- There are two species of hippo – common hippo, and the more endangered pygmy hippo. Both species live in Africa.
- The name hippopotamus is Greek and means ‘river horse’, although their closest relative is the pig.
- As the name suggests, the pygmy hippo is far smaller that the common hippo but this is not their only difference. Pygmy hippos spend much less time in the water and they are either solitary or live in small family units.
- Pygmy hippos live in dense forests near rivers and streams. They are good swimmers and have muscular valves that close their ears and nostrils when submerged.
- They have large and extremely sharp teeth, which they use for protection. Although they are small, pygmy hippos are very aggressive.
- Pygmy hippos are herbivores. They uproot swamp plants, crush hard fruit with their teeth and strip leaves from shrubs and trees. They also eat leaves and grasses.
- After a gestation period of around 6 months, the female hippo will give birth to a single calf. For the first few weeks, the calf is hidden in bushes as it cannot walk very far. Pygmy hippo calves do not instinctively know how to swim – their mother teaches them how to do this. Mothers defend their calf aggressively and they stay together for at least two years.
- The lifespan of a pygmy hippo is approximately 40 years.
- The European Endangered Species Programme or EEP is a population management programme for a species kept in European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) zoos.
- Edinburgh Zoo is only one of six UK zoos to care for pygmy hippos.
- Edinburgh Zoo is owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, a registered charity, charity no SC004064.
- The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, established in 1909, is currently celebrating its centenary year.