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Berlin Zoo Welcomes Dwarf Hippo Calf Kept Off View for Early Care

The careful rollout reflects the zoo’s focus on quiet early bonding for this sensitive, largely solitary species.

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Im Berliner Zoo ist erneut ein Zwergflusspferd geboren worden. Das gesunde Weibchen sei mit einem Geburtsgewicht von 5,9 Kilogramm zur Welt gekommen, teilte der Zoo in der Hauptstadt mit. Drei Tage später habe es bereits 7,1 Kilo gewogen.

Overview

  • Debbie delivered a female dwarf hippopotamus Saturday that weighed 5.9 kilograms at birth and now weighs 7.1.
  • The calf is not yet on display as keepers limit access to let mother and baby bond in a quiet space.
  • Mammal curator Florian Sicks said Debbie is handling the newborn calmly and with confidence.
  • The father, Tobi, is not involved in rearing because dwarf hippos are solitary and males do not care for young.
  • The birth follows 2024’s Toni, whose naming contest drew over 20,000 suggestions, and the zoo says such attention can raise awareness for a species with fewer than 2,500 adults in West Africa.