The Dvur Kralove Zoo, located in the Czech Republic, recently welcomed the birth of a young male pygmy hippopotamus. This arrival is a real joy for the conservation efforts of this endangered species.
The newborn, named Mikolas, joined two females and a male pygmy hippos already present in the zoo. This species is native to the swamps and rainforests of West Africa, and it is estimated that there are only 2,500 wild individuals left in the world.
Breeding pygmy hippos in captivity is complex, particularly due to a lack of males. Only a dozen births were recorded in zoos around the world last year.
Weighing up to 275 kilograms, pygmy hippos are solitary and considered less dangerous than their common hippo cousins, although they can be wild at times. A zookeeper at Dvur Kralove Zoo was seriously injured by one of these animals in 2012.
The video, directed by Jan Gebert and produced by Karel Janicek and Petr Josek, offers an insight into this new birth at Dvur Kralove Zoo.
This article highlights the importance of conservation efforts for endangered species, like pygmy hippos, and shows how zoos play a crucial role in their preservation. It also highlights the difficulties faced by captive breeders and the rarity of pygmy hippo births in zoos around the world.
In concluding, it would also be great to encourage readers to support conservation programs and learn more about the different endangered species around the world.