A new baby pygmy hippo has been born at the Metro Richmond Zoo, joining a recent trend of baby pygmy hippo births that signify important ecological progress for the endangered species.
This photo provided by the Metro Richmond Zoo shows a baby pygmy hippo during a vet exam on Dec. 14, 2024, in Moseley, Va. It looks like production at the viral baby pygmy hippo factory is at an all-time high, with the Metro Richmond Zoo in Moseley, Va., announcing the birth of a new pygmy hippopotamus (though pygmy hippos are native to forests and swamps in West Africa). At least one other baby pygmy hippo made a public appearance to fanfare this year — Voting is open until 2 p.m.
Tuesday, with the winning name announced on New Year's Day. The name options are Poppy, Juniper, Hammie Mae and Omi. Moo Deng was one of the internet's biggest celebrities in 2024, known for her rotund figure and fiery personality. She was plastered across social media feeds, and faced the pitfalls of fame when visitors had their viewing privileges restricted for throwing items into her enclosure. When Haggis came onto the scene in Edinburgh, she was subjected to headlines pitting her against her ham-like sister. This new boom of squishy babies marks important ecological progress for pygmy hippos, which are an endangered species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. So the latest baby is not just a new source of joy for us to fawn over online. NPR's Jaclyn Diaz spoke to Jonny Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo back in November, about how crucial each new birth is, saying, 'It is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare,' and that having little ambassadors to connect with visitors can 'help raise awareness of the challenges the species face in the wild.' Manuela López Restrepo is a producer and writer at All Things Considered. She's been at NPR since graduating from The University of Maryland, and has worked at shows like Morning Edition and It's Been A Minute. She lives in Brooklyn with her cat Martin
PYGMY HIPPOS ENDANGERED SPECIES METRO RICHMOND ZOO BABY ANIMALS CONSERVATION
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