My vibe for a pygmy hippo calf is generally female, probably because every calf (bar one, who died shortly after birth and was not announced to the public) born this century at Taronga has been female (Monifa, Kambiri, Kamina and Amara). The other zoos (Melbourne and Cairns), by contrast, exclusively produced surviving males.
My guess is for a female calf based on its appearance, but it’ll be interesting to see. With the Hippopotamus IRA likely completed by the time this hippopotamus reaches maturity, it’s more likely Melbourne and Adelaide would import from outside the region rather than pairing this calf with a close relative imo. This calf could however provide incentive for a new holder to arise (as Kamina previously did). Either way, it’s very exciting to be back up six Pygmy hippopotami!
The streak of female calves at Taronga has to end at some point! I believe they also had a flurry of female calves dating back to the 70's and 80's as well. Even once the IRA is completed, it'll still take a while to organise an import from overseas. Although the IRA is hopefully getting much closer to completion, it could still be years away and if you add into account the time spent organising an import, I don't think we'd see any imports until much later this decade. Adelaide's proposed exhibit is still at least another four or five years away, so I'd imagine this would be a perfect time for them to acquire a mate for Obi too.
I’ve had a look back on Taronga’s records and the first breeding pair (Happy and Sneezy) produced 10 calves between 1957-1973, which consisted of six females, one male and three unconfirmed. The trend continued with their daughter Cleo (born 1968), who produced two calves in 1973 and 1978, both of which were female. One of these in turn produced a single calf in 1985, again it was a female. This will be Fergus and Kambiri’s third calf and the first two (Kamina and Amara) have been female. Will lightning strike thrice?
So Taronga have only had one confirmed male Pygmy Hippo calf in their history! It's a similar story with their Common Hippos too, as they also had very few males born. Considering Petre's third calf was also male after two female births - the same may occur with Kambiri this time around. The calf was also born 15/01/2024 so is currently 23 days old.
Taronga Zoo have previously had two confirmed male Pygmy hippopotamus calves. Anthony was born to Happy and Sneezy in 1972. He sired calves to his sister Cleo (Katrina and Cookie) before his death at the age of seven in 1979. The second male was born 2009 to Timmy and Petre and lived for five days. Petre (1984) had a total of four calves: 0.1 Monifa (2008-2010) 1.0 Unnamed (2009-2009) 0.1 Kambiri (2010) 1.0 Obi (2015) It’s interesting to see how late she came to motherhood, but proves nonetheless that female hippos don’t experience sterility as some other ungulates do.
Birth Announcement - Taronga Zoo: We are delighted to celebrate this special day by announcing the birth and public debut of a four-week-old female Pygmy Hippo calf, named Lololi. Experienced mum, Kambiri gave birth to 4kg Lololi on 16 January 2024 and has since been bonding in the behind-the-scenes nursery. Lololi and Kambiri have gained swimming confidence, and the two can now be spotted suckling, splashing and snoozing in the pool - mum of course in tow when Lololi explores all terrains of the outdoor habitat. This birth takes the regional population to 3.3 Pygmy hippopotamus: Spoiler: Australasian Pygmy Hippopotamus Population (2024) Taronga Zoo: 1.0 Fergus (06/08/2009) Frank x Fluffy 0.1 Kambiri (26/06/2010) Timmy x Petre 0.1 Lololi (16/01/2024) Fergus z Kambiri Melbourne Zoo: 1.0 Felix (17/11/2006) Frank x Fluffy Adelaide Zoo: 1.0 Obi (25/05/2015) Felix x Petre Darling Downs Zoo: 0.1 Kamina (21/02/2017) Fergus x Kambiri Total regional population: 3.2
Yes it should. I used the previous template and added in Lololi, but didn’t revise the regional population. 1.2 at Taronga 1.0 at Adelaide 1.0 at Melbourne 0.1 at Darling Downs Zoo I can’t wait to see the regional population expand further when the Hippopotamus IRA is completed. I’m anticipating Melbourne to be the first to import; if not a group import between two or more holders.
Hippopotamus Weights On 25/01/2022, Werribee Open Range Zoo weighed their five Common hippopotami (weights displayed on signage board outside their exhibit). Their weights are as follows: 0.1 Primrose (01/12/1990) Harold x Unknown 1910 kg 0.1 Tulip (01/01/2003) Harold x Primrose 1660 kg 0.1 Lotus (28/03/2008) Harold x Primrose 1830 kg 0.1 Brindabella (09/12/1990) Harold x Beatrice 1594 kg 0.1 Pansy (18/11/2013) Harold x Brindabella 1138 kg It’s interesting to note the difference in weights between Primrose and her daughters versus Brindabella and her daughter. Since they share a sire, it would appear this disparity was inherited through their maternal line. According to most sources, the average weight of a female Common hippopotamus is 1000-1500 kg; and the average weight of a male is 1500-2000 kg. Primrose is therefore a very large female! Photo of Primrose from my November 2024 visit:
I came across this document which is part of the IRA process: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/def.../files/pygmy-hippopotamus-terms-reference.pdf Most of the information is pretty standard (basic information about the species which could be found on Wikipedia, and info which would contribute to the development of the IRA, reasons for importing the species, and so forth). It must have been compiled in 2017 or 2018, as there is a book chapter from 2017 referenced, but also that there was only 3 holders of pygmy hippos (Taronga, Adelaide and Melbourne) at the time. Interestingly, three additional facilities had expressed an interest in holding pygmy hippos at this time. I would assume one of those was Darling Downs Zoo, given they would receive Kamina from Taronga shortly after this. While it seems like plans have now changed, it wouldn't surprise me if one of the zoos was Auckland Zoo.
Auckland were indeed interested in the possibility of Pygmy Hippos at the time; following the loss of their last common hippo in 2016. For the third facility, it's really a weigh up. Perth would be a strong chance imo but another smaller facility like Mogo or Altina wouldn't surprise me too.
New Zealand zoos required an IHS to import hippopotamus (which they still don’t have), so Pygmy hippopotamus were never given any serious consideration by Auckland (though I’ve long been of the opinion they should have replaced their Common hippopotamus). Auckland Zoo stated upon the deaths of Faith and Fudge that they would like to import more; but I never regarded this as anything other a throwaway comment to appease the public, as they very quickly proceeded to expanding the savannah. The additional zoos could have included Crocodylus. They wanted Common hippopotamus in 2006, but might have considered Pygmy hippopotamus more achievable.
Orana Wildlife Park - Hippopotamus Plans (1980’s) Something which comes up from time to time is how suitable Orana Wildlife Park would be for Common hippopotamus; especially now all three of the other open range zoos in the region hold this species. In researching zebra holdings, I learned Common hippopotamus were in Orana’s plans. They were mentioned in a total of three articles from May 1979 to April 1980. The zoo’s masterplan detailed ambitions to build a 40ha African Plains precinct, of which the third phase was to accomodate Common hippopotamus, Waterbuck and Sitatunga. Since there were no further mention beyond this, we can assume the plans to acquire hippopotamus were abandoned early 1980’s. Auckland Zoo would have been the most likely source of hippopotami for Orana Wildlife Park. In 1980, they had the following hippopotami (housed in two pods): 1.0 Kabete (1953) Imported 1956 0.1 Snorkel (1959) Kabete x Nada 0.1 Hope (1973) Scuba x Snorkel 1.0 Scuba (1964) Kabete x Nada 0.1 Bonnie (1957) Imported 1966 0.1 Faith (1975) Kabate x Bonnie In 1982, Auckland Zoo built opened a new exhibit, which saw the two pods merged into a grouping of 1.4 hippopotami (Scuba died 1980). They would have greatly benefited from transferring out one of the female lines (Snorkel/Hope or Bonnie/Faith) due to the conflicts between them and the high population density of the exhibit.
Hello folks, can't believe it's been four years since I last posted. Time flies. The long-awaited draft report of the Hippo IRA was released today, see below. Probably a couple more years until the final report is published but progress nonetheless. Animal Biosecurity Advice 2024-A06: Importation of zoo hippopotamuses and their semen from approved countries - DAFF
Long-awaited is an understatement. Fantastic news that the draft of the IRA has finally been released and some imports of Common and Pygmy hippopotamus could be on the horizon within a couple of years. The last Common hippopotamus imported into the region was in 1956!
Would the first ZooChatter to read the draft from cover to cover [as I have just done] please put up their hand here.
