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North American Pygmy Hippo Population

Discussion in 'North America - General' started by EsserWarrior, 21 Aug 2021.

  1. Nile Hippo Expert

    Nile Hippo Expert Well-Known Member

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    I wonder why they moved Betty at 46. That would make her the oldest of her species in North America, and maybe the world.
     
  2. MidwestFan

    MidwestFan Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    If I had to guess, for space. When I visited 09/23/2022, both Scooby and Chomel were in the Pygmy Hippo exhibit together. The Pygmy Hippo overflow exhibit has been an island exhibit with primates, but that exhibit has been needed for Tapir overflow exhibit space as well. I also would not be surprised if Omaha had a breeding recommendation for Scooby and Chomel.
     
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  3. Jefferson

    Jefferson Well-Known Member

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    Toronto Zoo's 0.1 Penelope (1.0 Harvey x 0.1 Kindia) will be moving to the Houston Zoo this fall with plans to mate with their male Silas.

    We are hopeful up north that this means we may get a new baby this coming summer.
     
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  4. leo811

    leo811 Well-Known Member

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    I forgot I was going to reply to this, before it happened...
    Akobi is now in San Francisco.
     
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  5. csartie

    csartie Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Houston just announced that Silas has passed away "after his heart gave out following a short illness" :(

    Remembering Pygmy Hippo Silas, The Houston Zoo
     
  6. StoppableSan

    StoppableSan Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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  7. leo811

    leo811 Well-Known Member

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    That's sad. RIP Silas, Bless Your Soul. ... Too bad the Zoo didn't give him more than a short paragraph. Looked him up. Only four/half yrs old. Too young.
     
  8. Jambo

    Jambo Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Tragic news, like @leo811 said, he was only four. :( He was born at Henry Doorly in 2018, and arrived to Houston in late 2020. So tragically, he hadn't even been at the zoo for two years.

    May he rest in peace.

    Hopefully Houston will acquire another pygmy hippo to replace him soon. A breeding pair would be good down the line.
     
  9. Nile Hippo Expert

    Nile Hippo Expert Well-Known Member

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    Penelope's transfer to Houston has been cancelled due to Silas's death. She will remain in Toronto for now.
     
  10. TZFan

    TZFan Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Penelope's move being cancelled due to Silas's death does raise questions about the death. Toronto was on the verge of transferring her. The last guaranteed day to to see her was at the start of the month. They had to be super close. And its not like she cannot breed with literally any male in the US so you would think getting her down there would be more important than knowing who she will breed with. Houston wanted a breeding pair and without Silas its not like they were suddenly short on space. Makes one wonder if Silas died of something that might be passed to Penelope if she had to be held in the same space too soon. Really is a shame because not only will it prevent Toronto from breeding but it also means they are right back at the start and will have to do all the paperwork, health checks, and transport arrangements again. She's going nowhere at this point until spring at the earliest.
     
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  11. MidwestFan

    MidwestFan Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    According to an email from the Omaha Zoo Foundation, the zoo confirms that they have 1.1 Pygmy Hippos at the zoo, and they listed names:

    "Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is home to two pygmy hippos, Chomel and Scooby."
     
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  12. Smaggledagle

    Smaggledagle Well-Known Member

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  13. MeiLover

    MeiLover Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  14. Smaggledagle

    Smaggledagle Well-Known Member

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    My mistake, I always get that confused with Alabama for some reason.
     
  15. Neil chace

    Neil chace Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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  16. Jambo

    Jambo Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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  17. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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  18. Corangurilla

    Corangurilla Well-Known Member

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  19. Smaggledagle

    Smaggledagle Well-Known Member

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  20. Jambo

    Jambo Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Exciting to see him going into a breeding situation at John Ball.

    Hopefully Pittsburgh can import another individual down the line; but from the looks of it, it dosen’t seem like there’s any imminent plans.