Baby Pygmy Hippo Makes Public Debut: Big Pic
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June 07, 2011 -- An 18-day-old pygmy hippopotamus made his public debut at the Bratislava Zoo in Slovakia last week. His mother is 29-year-old Dina, and his father is 4-year-old Paul.
While they may look cute, pygmy hippopotamuses are known to be aggressive, especially in protecting their home. And, although called "pygmy," these animals are far from tiny, generally weighing between 350 and 550 pounds and standing about 2 feet tall.
SEE ALSO: Baby Hippo Lives on Former Druglord Property
Pygmy hippos are distinct from their larger cousin, the Nile hippopotamus, in that they’re smaller, have eyes on the sides of their head, and their nostrils sit lower on their snouts. In general, the pygmy is more "pig-like" in shape and proportion, according to the National Zoo. While Nile hippopotamuses roam most of Africa, the pygmy hippo is native to West Africa, and almost entirely confined to Liberia and a few surrounding countries.
There are only a few thousand left in the wild and continued deforestation and loss of habitat are their main threats, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Not much is known about the species except through observations of them in captivity. As of 2004, 180 pygmy hippos lived in zoos and breeding programs around the world.
Thankfully, pygmy hippos are known to breed well in captivity.
SEE ALSO: Hippo Sweat Offers Key to Natural Sunscreen
Photo credits: Bratslavia Zoo
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