In a rare occurrence for endangered species conservation, the Metro Richmond Zoo in Virginia announced the birth of a female pygmy hippopotamus on December 9, 2024. The calf, weighing 15 pounds at five days old, marks the third offspring for parents Iris and Corwin. The birth presents a small but crucial advancement in preserving the species, with fewer than 2,500 mature pygmy hippos remaining in the wild. These solitary creatures, native to the swamps and rivers of West Africa, face mounting pressures from habitat destruction and poaching. “Most people don’t get a hippopotamus for Christmas at all, so we feel … Continue reading Endangered Pygmy Hippo Born at Virginia Zoo: A Rare Addition to the Fewer Than 2,500 Left in the Wild