Rare Pygmy Hippo Born At Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Christmas came early at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo with the birth of a rare baby in an adorable pygmy package. An endangered pygmy hippopotamus was born in the early morning on Dec. 1, 2017 to experienced mother Zsa Zsa, weighing in at an estimated 9 pounds. The newborn is one of only 32 pygmy hippos in the Species Survival Program making it a rare gift for the Tampa community. This is the fourth offspring for Zsa Zsa, and the fourth birth of this species in the Zoo's history.

"Pygmy hippos are elusive and extremely rare in the wild with only a few thousand thought to be left in the world," said Chris Massaro, General Curator at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. "We're one of only 13 zoos in the United States to care for this unique species so this birth is especially important for us, and the entire Pygmy hippo population."

Pygmy hippos, as their name implies, are smaller than their Nile hippo relative. Unlike the more common river hippo which live in large pods in rivers throughout much of eastern and southern Africa, pygmy hippos are much rarer, living solitary, elusive lives in lowland forests, mainly confined to Liberia in West Africa, with small numbers in neighboring countries. At full grown, pygmy hippos weigh in at only a few hundred pounds, and stand only about three feet tall.  

The Zoo plans on announcing the gender of the new addition with a special gender reveal. More news on the name of the calf will be revealed in the coming weeks. Guests can see the Pygmy hippo calf in its habitat in Ituri Forest located in Safari Africa.

About Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to excellence in education, conservation and research. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and is featured among the "Top 25 Zoos in the U.S" by TripAdvisor (2015) and "10 Best Zoos in the U.S." by Trekaroo (2015). The Zoo is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa, one mile west of I-275 (exit 48) and is open seven days a week, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Parking is free. Visit www.tlpz.org or call (813) 935-8552 for information.  Also find the Zoo on Facebook and Twitter.

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SOURCE Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo