A public vote has opened to call the Metro Richmond Zoo’s new child feminine pygmy hippopotamus calf.
The calf was born Dec. 9, a Christmas Eve information launch from the Virginia-based zoo introduced.
“Hippo hooray! The zoo is happy to announce a heartwarming addition to our animal household simply in time for the vacations: a child pygmy hippo. The new child arrived on December 9, 2024, after a 7-month gestation. Congratulations to pygmy hippo mother and father Iris and Corwin on the start of one other little lady,” the zoo in Mosley stated within the launch.
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The unnamed calf is the hippo couple’s third within the final 4½ years, the zoo stated, and is the second born at Christmastime.
The discharge included a video of the zoo’s latest resident romping about her enclosure together with her mom. The video was set to the Christmas carol “I Need a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”
The pygmy hippopotamus was born Dec. 9, the Metro Richmond Zoo in Mosley, Va., stated. (Metro Richmond Zoo)
“Most individuals don’t get a hippopotamus for Christmas in any respect, so we really feel fortunate to have acquired two over time,” the Metro Richmond Zoo stated.
Iris delivered this calf in water, her first water start, in response to the zoo. Pygmy hippopotamuses, in contrast to their bigger, extra widespread counterparts, give start on each land and in water.
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“The infant’s pure instincts kicked in, and he or she began shifting round within the water instantly,” the zoo famous.
The new child weighed in at “a wholesome 15 kilos” and can weigh as much as 600 kilos when she is totally grown, the discharge famous.
On Friday, Dec. 27, the Metro Richmond Zoo launched a ballot to call the brand new calf.
The new child feminine calf weighed in at 15 kilos when she was 5 days outdated, the zoo stated. (Metro Richmond Zoo)
Selections embody Poppy, Juniper, Hammie Mae, and Omi.
Poppy was chosen as a tribute to her mom’s floral identify, Juniper is a nod to her winter birthday, Hammie Mae is “a candy and southern tie to Virginia ham” and Omi is the Yoruba phrase for “water,” in response to the Metro Richmond Zoo.
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The ballot acquired an “unbelievable response” within the first 24 hours it was open, the zoo stated in an replace posted to its web site and Fb web page.
“We’re thrilled to see so many individuals becoming a member of in on the enjoyable of naming our lovable pygmy hippo child.”
“We’re thrilled to see so many individuals becoming a member of in on the enjoyable of naming our lovable pygmy hippo child,” the zoo stated.
The zoo acquired greater than 14,000 votes “from hippo followers all around the world” throughout the first day of voting.
The new child pygmy hippopotamus, proper, was the third cub born to mother Iris, left. (Metro Richmond Zoo)
The Metro Richmond Zoo clarified that if no identify received an outright majority of the votes, there can be a second vote with the highest two contenders.
The zoo additionally posted a graph of the outcomes up to now however declined to say which identify was within the lead.
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The ballot closes Dec. 31 at 2 p.m., and the successful identify can be introduced New Yr’s Day.
Fox Information Digital reached out to the Metro Richmond Zoo for added remark.
The pygmy hippopotamus’ identify can be introduced on New Yr’s Day, in response to the Metro Richmond Zoo. (Metro Richmond Zoo)
The Metro Richmond Zoo’s new child pygmy hippo was born months after Moo Deng, one other pygmy hippopotamus, went viral for her lovable antics in Thailand.
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Since Moo Deng first acquired worldwide consideration over the summer season, she has been parodied on “Saturday Night time Dwell,” appropriately predicted the 2024 U.S. presidential election, impressed a make-up pattern and prompted a two-hour-long site visitors jam on the street to her zoo.
