The Toronto Zoo has announced the birth of a female pygmy hippo calf. The calf's mother, 20-year-old Kindia, began showing signs of labour last Sunday morning, giving birth approximately 5.5 hours later.
The zoo stated that the calf began attempting to stand within 15 minutes of birth and was navigating its enclosure confidently a few hours later. It was observed nursing around 4.5 hours after birth. The newborn is Kindia's third calf and is reported to be doing well alongside its mother.
Dolf DeJong, CEO of the Toronto Zoo, highlighted the importance of the birth, noting that pygmy hippos are endangered and their wild populations are decreasing due to habitat loss and human pressures. The species is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list.
An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 pygmy hippos are believed to remain in the wild. These animals, native to West African forests and swamps, face threats from logging, mining, farming, and human settlement.