TORONTO ZOO’S ENDANGERED PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS MAKES PUBLIC DEBUT

TORONTO, ON, Wednesday, September 19, 2018: The Toronto Zoo’s endangered pygmy hippopotamus calf made her public debut today in the African Rainforest Pavilion!

Kindia, a 12- year-old female pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis), gave birth to a female calf on Friday, August 10, 2018 at 10:52 pm. The endangered female pygmy hippopotamus calf will be on exhibit daily from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm*. This schedule is subject to change as there may be times when she is brought inside the Pygmy Hippo Maternity Area for feeding and to enable our Veterinary and Wildlife Care teams to closely monitor her progress.

Toronto Zoo’s Name Our Pygmy Hippopotamus Calf promotion will launch to the public on Friday, September 21, 2018! Public can vote for their favourite name from a group of four names that have been thoughtfully selected by her Wildlife Care keeping staff.  Be sure to check out the torontozoo.com and the Zoo’s Facebook and Twitter accounts for details and vote on your favourite name through Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 11:59 pm. The name to receive the most votes will be announced on Thursday, October 4, 2018. 

This recent birth is very important for pygmy hippopotamus conservation as the species is currently listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and there are only approximately 2,000 to 3,000 left in the wild in West Africa, with Liberia having the majority of the population. Small numbers are also found in the neighboring countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Over the past 100 years, the pygmy hippo’s habitat has declined dramatically as a result of logging, farming and human settlement. As deforestation continues and their habitat becomes more fragmented, newly accessible populations are coming under increasing pressure from hunters.

The Toronto Zoo is part of the Pygmy Hippopotamus Species Survival Plan (SSP), which aims to establish and maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population, and overall conservation efforts to save this incredible species. One of the Toronto Zoo's mandates is to educate visitors on current conservation issues and help preserve the incredible biodiversity on the planet. The Toronto Zoo is in a great position to bring forward the plight of the pygmy hippopotamus and supports hippopotamus conservation efforts in the wild through keeper awareness events and the Toronto Zoo Endangered Species Reserve Fund.

*times subject to change without notice.

For more information on the endangered pygmy hippopotamus calf

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Toronto Zoo Media Contacts:

Katie Gray, Supervisor of Public Relations and Events
[email protected] or #416-392-5941

Amanda Chambers, Public Relations and Events Associate
[email protected] or #416-392-5974

About The Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo is Canada’s premier zoo and a national leader in saving wildlife to ensure the rich diversity of nature for future generations. More than a tourist attraction, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats – from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day except December 25 and attracts approximately 1.3 million visitors each year.