Child Haggis, a pygmy hippo, was born to folks Otto and Gloria at Edinburgh Zoo on Oct. 30.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo/RZSS
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The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo/RZSS
Transfer over Moo Deng, there’s a brand new pygmy on the town.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo introduced Monday that their very own tiny pygmy hippo, named Haggis, was born Oct. 30 to folks Otto and Gloria.
The new child calf is doing rather well, in keeping with Jonny Appleyard, hoofstock group chief at Edinburgh Zoo.
“It is amazing to see her personality beginning to shine already,” Appleyard continued in a press release issued by the zoo.
Guests already enamored by photographs and video of the shiny, chubby creature must wait awhile earlier than making a trek to see her in particular person.
The primary 30 days are vital for improvement, Edinburgh Zoo stated, so Child Haggis will not be out in public whereas zoo employees preserve a detailed eye on mother and child on this early stretch.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo/RZSS
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The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo/RZSS
“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,” Appleyard stated.
Pygmy hippos, native to forests and swamps in West Africa, are endangered animals, in keeping with the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature. There are simply an estimated 2,000 that stay on this planet, primarily in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast, on account of habitat loss and being hunted for bushmeat, in keeping with the Pygmy Hippo Basis.
Haggis’ beginning comes because the world stays obsessed over the beginning of Thailand’s Moo Deng, who’s such a viral sensation guests can solely see her for 5 minutes throughout restricted days of the week.
“While Thailand’s Moo Deng has become a viral global icon, it is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare,” Appleyard stated. “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.”
