GODDARD — "I want a hippo for Christmas" has taken on a whole new meaning as Tanganyika Wildlife Park shares the news of the birth of a baby Pygmy Hippopotamus, according to a media release from the park.
Weighing only 13 lbs at birth, the male calf was born to parents Posie and Pluto on December 14. Posie and Pluto came to Tanganyika from different zoological facilities in Florida and have become key players in safeguarding this rare species.
Posie and Pluto, the sole pygmy hippo parents in Kansas, have been joyfully residing at Tanganyika Wildlife Park since 2014. This marks their fourth calf, and as Hoofstock Keeper Sierra Smith notes, "Posie is an attentive mother, nursing well and keeping the baby close— a true professional!" The birth of this new calf not only brings hope for preserving critically endangered Pygmy hippos, with fewer than 3,000 known individuals worldwide, but also underscores the significance of Tanganyika's participation in cooperative breeding programs with other accredited zoological facilities. With a strong need for male hippos in the breeding program, this latest addition holds even greater importance.
The secretive and nocturnal behavior of pygmy hippos sets them apart from their larger relatives, the Nile hippopotamus, known for living in large social groups called “bloats.” To overcome the challenges in studying pygmy hippos, researchers heavily rely on observations in zoological environments. "Every pygmy hippo birth, whether in human care or in their native habitat, is critical for their ongoing survival," emphasizes Dr. Samantha Russak, Tanganyika’s Chief of Research and Welfare. Tanganyika Wildlife Park, one of only 30 facilities in the United States housing pygmy hippos, plays a crucial role in preserving this rare species and contributing valuable knowledge about their behavior in captivity.
A renowned center for the preservation and breeding of rare and endangered species, Tanganyika Wildlife Park has welcomed three other pygmy hippo calves in recent years, including Nessie in 2017, Yeti in 2019, Link in 2021, and now the newest addition. Nessie has even become a parent herself, making Posie and Pluto proud grandparents.
During the park’s operating season from March through November, guests can see the Pygmy Hippo family in their habitat, as well as get up close and personal during the daily Hippo Feeding, where guests have the chance to toss carrots into a hippo’s mouth. Dr. Russak emphasized, "The support and engagement of our visitors are crucial in creating awareness about the importance of preserving endangered species like the pygmy hippopotamus."