PREVIEW

A tiny Endangered pygmy hippo calf has been born at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo to parents Otto and Gloria. The female calf arrived on Wednesday 30 October and has been named Haggis by the wildlife conservation charity.

Jonny Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said, “Haggis is doing really well so far and it is amazing to see her personality beginning to shine already. 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.”

Pygmy hippos are native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, primarily Liberia. The species is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN) and it is estimated that just 2,500 remain in the wild due to habitat loss.

Jonny added, “While Thailand’s Moo Deng has become a viral global icon, it is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare. 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.”