This has been a bumper year for baby pygmy hippos. First, charismatic youngster Moo Deng of Thailand dominated the internet through memes, TikTok makeup tutorials and a “Saturday Night Live” controversy. Then, Haggis the baby pygmy hippo arrived in Scotland. Now a new star is born at the Metro Richmond Zoo in Virginia. The zoo is seeking the public’s help in naming the baby.
The pygmy hippopotamus was born on Dec. 9 and given an official birth announcement on Dec. 24. The parents are Iris and Corwin. It’s their third calf together. The baby had a watery entrance. “This birth was unique as it was the first time Iris gave birth in water,” the zoo said. “While common hippos usually give birth underwater, pygmy hippo calves can be born on land or in water.”
Pygmy hippos, known formally as Choeropsis liberiensis, are much smaller than a standard hippo. Adults can reach up to 600 pounds, but the zoo’s baby weighed in at 15 pounds when she was five days old—about the size of a large house cat. The reclusive species is native to West Africa and loves water just as much as its heftier counterparts.
Baby pygmy hippo naming poll
The Metro Richmond Zoo’s newcomer needs a name. Sorry, “Hippo McHippoFace” isn’t an option. The zoo launched an online poll with four contenders. “Poppy” is a flower that would match the baby’s mom’s flowery name “Iris.” “Juniper” is an evergreen that would commemorate the baby’s birth in winter. “Hammie Mae” is a nod to Virginia ham. “Omi” means water in the West African language Yoruba.
The naming poll closes on Dec. 31. The zoo had already received over 14,000 votes as of Dec. 28. “We’re thrilled to see so many people joining in on the fun of naming our adorable pygmy hippo baby,” the zoo said.
One name seemed to be in the lead with 39.4% of the vote, but the zoo wouldn’t reveal the leader. An informal survey of comments on the zoo’s Facebook post shows “Poppy” is popular. If a name doesn’t get at least 50% of the vote, then the zoo will launch a runoff with the top two names going head-to-head in a revote. Otherwise, the zoo will announce the winner on New Year’s Day.
If “Hammie Mae” comes out on top, the hippo will be in good company with other food-themed pygmy hippo names. Moo Deng, the most famous pygmy hippo, has a name that translates to “bouncy pork.” The Scottish hippo born earlier this year is named after a famously divisive dish made with offal.
Pygmy hippos are endangered
The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies pygmy hippos as endangered on its Red List of Threatened Species. Experts estimate less than 2,500 mature individuals live in the wild. The animals are under pressure from loss of habitat and hunting. Zoos are part of an effort to preserve the species, so every pygmy hippo baby is celebrated. “This birth—like all of Iris’ births—plays an important role in helping protect this rare and elusive species,” the Metro Richmond Zoo said.
The new hippo on the block is unlikely to eclipse Moo Deng’s celebrity, but the public has a seemingly endless appetite for images and videos of cute animals. Baby pygmy hippos are shiny, tiny, round and sassy. The baby won’t stay small for long. “The calf is nursing and growing quickly,” the zoo said. Soon, she won’t be just “the baby” anymore. She’ll have a name of her own to carry along with a ray of hope for an endangered species.
