The pygmy hippopotamus, whose brother died shortly after birth on June 3, is still unnamed. Now the zoo wants to remedy that with a large-scale name search: anyone interested can submit suggestions in the comment columns of the zoo's social media channels or by email until next Friday. “It's an open secret that I particularly like short and concise names associated with Berlin,” explained zoo director Andreas Knieriem.
According to the zoo, the dwarf river baby is developing rapidly. It gains about 200-300 grams every day and now weighs ten kilograms. However, it is not yet visible to visitors. According to the zoo, he spends his first weeks of life with his mother, Debbie, “in the back of the hippo house.” It should be big enough for an outdoor area with a swimming pool by the end of July.
Pygmy hippos are among the most endangered species. According to the zoo, there are fewer than 2,500 adult pygmy hippos in the wild in West Africa. According to environmentalists, their biggest threat is humans. It is responsible for the loss of their habitats through logging for mining and agricultural use.