Pint-sized pygmy hippo calf makes public debut at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo ahead of school holidays

Adorable and chubby baby pygmy hippo delights visitors at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo on her first public outing

  • Newborn pygmy hippo makes her adorable debut at Taronga Zoo on Thursday
  • Calf is learning how to walk and swim with encouragement from mum Kambiri 
  • The Zoo welcomed its first calf in four years as part of conservation efforts 
  • Zookeepers are now calling on the public to help name the pint-sized calf 


A tiny watermelon on legs – otherwise known as a newborn pygmy hippo – has made her debut at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.

The ridiculously cute and chubby calf made her first public outing on Thursday, in time for the school holidays, delighting staff and visitors alike.

Zoo director Simon Duffy says baby pygmy hippos ‘are like a small watermelon on little, tiny legs’.

A newborn pygmy hippo – has made her debut at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo on Thursday (pictured)

Born to mum Kambiri and dad Fergus, the pygmy hippo is the first birth at the zoo in four years

Born to mum Kambiri and dad Fergus, the pygmy hippo is the first birth at the zoo in four years

‘They are so beautiful,’ he said.

Born to mum Kambiri and dad Fergus, the pygmy hippo is the first birth at the zoo in four years.   

The arrival marks an important milestone for the conservation efforts to protect the endangered West African species, senior keeper Renae Moss said.

‘There’s fewer than 3000 of them left in the wild, so every birth in a zoo is extremely valuable to help bolster that population to ensure that we don’t lose the species all together,’ she said.

The baby hippo has spent the last two weeks in an off-exhibit nursery den, learning to walk and swim under the watchful eye of her mum.

Watching her graduate to the big exhibit was thrilling for Ms Moss who says the calf was initially hesitant to go into the pool, but eventually took the plunge with a little encouragement from mum.

The baby hippo has spent the last two weeks in an off-exhibit nursery den, learning to walk and swim

The baby hippo has spent the last two weeks in an off-exhibit nursery den, learning to walk and swim

‘As the calf masters the art of swimming and becomes more confident in and out of the water, we will begin to increase the depth of the pool and remove some baby proofing,’ she said.

The pint-sized calf remains nameless and zookeepers are appealing to the public for help.

Options suggested by her keepers include Amara, which means ‘filled with beauty and grace’ and is of West African origin, Sierra after the country of Sierra Leone, and Sapo after the Sapo National Park in Sinoe County, Liberia.

Members of the public can submit their own suggestions through the zoo’s website.

Pygmy hippos are native to West Africa and are generally solitary animals, only coming together for breeding.

There is estimated to be between 2,000 to 3,000 pygmy hippos remaining in the wild – classifying the species as endangered, with numbers continuing to decline in the wild. 

Taronga Zoo are appealing to members of the public to help name the tiny calf

Taronga Zoo are appealing to members of the public to help name the tiny calf