Rare Pygmy Hippo “Monifa” (Video/Photos)

Posted on November 7, 2008

Sydney’s Taronga Zoo has it’s first pygmy hippopotamus born at the zoo in 23 years. The rare pygmy hippo is named “Monifa” and is so precious! See more photos of this cutie below.

Definitely non-celebrity but too darling not to report on today!

Native to forests and swamp areas in Western Africa, the pygmy hippo is an endangered species. This baby hippo was named Monifa, meaning “I am lucky” in Nigerian. The pygmy hippo weighed in at 3.8 kilograms at birth on October 15.

Senior zoo keeper Renae Zammit said Monifa’s birth was breech, so it’s a miracle the baby survived. “Monifa was actually born backwards, a breech birth, so the labour was quite long and may have potentially caused her problems when she was born,” she said.

“She should have been up and running within the first hour of her life but she was actually quite weak and couldn’t stand up so we had to step in and help her and supply food.”

Isn’t the pygmy hippo baby precious?