A baby pygmy hippo has arrived at Edinburgh Zoo earlier than expected, appearing at mother Gloria's side during checks. The calf was born on Friday, July 31, to Gloria and Otto.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said the newborn is now bonding, feeding and resting privately with its mother before its full debut. The calf's gender will remain unknown until keepers carry out the first health checks.
Surprise arrival for keepers
Gloria's third pregnancy had been announced on social media, with keepers and vets estimating a mid-August arrival. The early birth surprised the team. Hoofstock team leader Jonny Appleyard said: "It has been a really exciting few days for the team and we are all delighted to see Gloria and her calf doing so well."
He continued: "Our main aim right now is to give them some private time until they show signs they are ready to meet the world." He also said: "We were expecting a week or two of calm after announcing Gloria's pregnancy but nature had other ideas. It was a real surprise to come in and find a new face tucked up with mum. We hope to be able to confirm the wee one's gender following upcoming health checks."
Fans suggest the name Neeps
Gloria was previously mother to Amara, born in 2021, and Haggis, born in 2024. Social media users are already suggesting names for the new arrival, with many backing Neeps to match Haggis. Comments included "Please call them Neeps", "Baby Neeps!!!!" and "Hi Neeps. Welcome to the world!"
Other suggestions included Tato, while one person proposed a Harry Potter-inspired name because Edinburgh is the birthplace of Harry Potter. Another wrote: "So cute!!! It should be called neeps or tattie so it goes with haggis."
Popularity and conservation
Pygmy hippos became widely popular in September 2024 when Moo Deng went viral in Thailand. Edinburgh Zoo said visitors will be able to see Gloria and her calf in the coming days.
The species is native to West Africa, with an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 left in the wild. Their habitat is under threat from logging and mining, and RZSS is working on conservation in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The calf will not meet its older sisters. Amara was moved to ZSL London Zoo in 2023 for a European breeding programme, while Haggis was transferred to Wingham Wildlife Park in Kent last October. Haggis later featured on NBC's Saturday Night Live and received a formal apology from BBC Radio One's Greg James, who had called her "not cute" on his show.
