2024 was the year of the pygmy hippo: Moo Deng’s sass practically broke the internet, and Haggis followed up with cute moments of her own. Now a third li’l lady is bound to scoop up viral attention.
While Moo Deng and Haggis are stationed comfortably in Thailand and Edinburgh respectively, this new member of the trio calls the Metro Richmond Zoo in Moseley, Virginia, her home. If you wanted to keep your 2025 travel plans close to New York, perhaps you should consider a visit to see the newborn in person.
The unnamed calf was born on December 9th — and she’s a Sagittarius, meaning she’ll likely have a fiery spirit like Moo Deng. She’s her parents’ Iris and Corwin’s third calf in four-and-a-half years, and oozes pudginess and charm, naturally. Unlike her two older sisters, she was the first of Iris’ girls to be born in water in an indoor pool.
The Metro Richmond Zoo is the only locale in Virginia where zoo-goers could catch a glimpse of the pygmy hippo, which is a pretty unique feat.
“The pygmy hippo is an endangered species native to the swamps and rivers of West Africa,” the zoo said in a press release. “Less than 2,500 mature individuals remain in the wild. This birth – like all of Iris’ births – plays an important role in helping protect this rare and elusive species. Unlike common hippos, pygmy hippos do not live in groups and are usually solitary or in pairs.”
Will you make a pitstop this year to see Iris and Corwin’s kiddo?