This baby hippo is small and cute, and will not get to be too much bigger as he grows up. Unlike the full size hippos who live in African rivers, this little fella lives on an island and has evolved to suit the smaller environment.
In November 2008 the Taronga Zoo in Australia celebrated the birth of a Pygmy Hippopotamus named ‘Monifa’, meaning ‘I am lucky’ in Nigerian. The calf weighed at 3.8 kilograms and was born to one of only two breeding pair of Pygmy Hippos in the Australasian region.
The species, which is native to the forests and swamps of western Africa and the Millheela region of Kenya, is nocturnal and reclusive, making it a very rare animal to see in the wild. In fact, Pygmy hippos were unknown outside of West Africa until the 19th century.
Source: Taronga Zoo, Australia
