The Toronto Zoo announced the birth of a female pygmy hippo calf to 20-year-old Kindia, her third offspring. Kindia went into labor at about 8:15 a.m.; after roughly 1.5 hours of active labor the healthy calf was born and attempted to stand within 15 minutes, nursing about 4.5 hours later. Both animals are doing well and are being monitored around the clock. The zoo emphasized the conservation importance of the birth, noting pygmy hippos are endangered and face habitat-related threats.
Toronto Zoo Welcomes Female Pygmy Hippo Calf — Kindia’s Third
The zoo has not identified the calf yet, but said that it is doing well alongside its mother.Photograph: Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo has confirmed the birth of a female pygmy hippopotamus calf to its 20-year-old female, Kindia. Zoo staff say both mother and calf are doing well and are under close observation during the critical first days after birth.
Kindia began showing signs of labor at about 8:15 a.m. last Sunday. Approximately four hours later the calf's feet were visible, and after about 1.5 hours of active labor Kindia delivered the healthy newborn.
According to the zoo, the calf attempted to stand within 15 minutes of birth and was "confidently navigating the space" a few hours later. Caregivers observed the baby nursing approximately 4.5 hours after delivery. The zoo has not yet assigned an official name to the calf.
This is Kindia’s third calf; she previously raised a daughter, Penelope, born in 2018. Kindia became pregnant after an eight-day introduction in January to a 31-year-old male pygmy hippo named Harvey.
“This wonderful news comes with both hope and caution,” the zoo said, noting that calf survival for pygmy hippos can be challenging. “Our team will continue to closely monitor both mom and calf around the clock during these important first days to ensure they continue to progress well together.”
Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong highlighted the conservation significance of the birth: pygmy hippos are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and wild populations are declining due to habitat loss and human pressures.
Only an estimated 2,000–3,000 pygmy hippos remain in the wild. Adults can weigh roughly 330–660 lb (150–300 kg) and stand about 2.5 ft (0.8 m) at the shoulder. Native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, the species faces increasing threats from logging, mining, agricultural expansion and human settlement.
The Toronto Zoo says this birth underscores the role accredited zoos play in conservation, scientific collaboration and maintaining healthy populations that can support the long-term survival of endangered species.
Help us improve.
