Your Toronto Zoo Welcomes Birth of an Endangered Pygmy Hippopotamus!

TORONTO, ON, Wednesday, August 5, 2026: We have some big, little exciting news to share! Your Toronto Zoo is thrilled to announce the birth of a female endangered pygmy hippo calf on Sunday morning, August 2nd.

Your Zoo team observed 20-year-old Kindia showing signs around 8:15 a.m. that labour was underway. Tiny feet appeared around 12:15 p.m., and after approximately 1.5 hours of active labour, one final push brought the healthy calf into the world. The calf began attempting to stand within approximately 15 minutes of birth and, within a few hours, was confidently navigating the space. She was seen nursing approximately 4.5 hours after birth, and throughout the night while Zoo professionals monitored her via cameras.

Both mom and calf are doing well and are spending time resting together behind the scenes in their Little Hippo Hollow which is not accessible to Zoo guests. This is Kindia's third calf, and she has proven herself to be an attentive mother, carefully protecting her newborn beneath her.

Kindia was introduced to 31-year-old male pygmy hippo Harvey for eight days in January which resulted in the pregnancy and birth of this little bundle on Sunday afternoon. This wonderful news comes with both hope and caution. Kindia successfully raised her daughter Penelope in 2018, and calf survival for this species 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.

“Welcoming a pygmy hippo calf is far more than a celebration of new life. Pygmy hippos are endangered, and their wild populations continue to decline due to habitat loss and human pressures. This birth represents the critical role modern accredited zoos play in conservation, scientific collaboration, and maintaining healthy populations that contribute to the long-term survival of the species. At your Toronto Zoo, it also reflects our mission of connecting people, animals, conservation science, and traditional knowledge to fight extinction, and reminds us that every species saved is the result of collective action and shared responsibility.” said Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo.

Pygmy hippos are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with approximately 2,000 to 3,000 individuals believed to remain in the wild. Native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, they rely on dense, undisturbed habitats to survive. Unfortunately, these habitats are under threat due to logging, mining, agriculture, and human settlement, which fragment the landscape and make it harder for wildlife to thrive. Hunting pressures also continue to impact wild populations.

Deep in the rainforests of Ivory Coast, conservation researchers are working to better understand and protect these elusive animals in their natural habitat. Researchers from IBREAM, alongside their Ivorian colleagues at CSRS, are using innovative tools and field techniques to study pygmy hippos, including camera traps and detection dogs, helping uncover new insights about a species that has long remained hidden from human eyes.

After years of searching, researchers captured a rare glimpse of a mother pygmy hippo and her calf moving through the forest, grazing and entering the water on night cameras. This remarkable sighting is more than a moment of wonder — it is a testament to decades of conservation work and collaboration to better understand a species that remains one of the world’s most elusive mammals.

Your Toronto Zoo is proud to support this important conservation work in Ivory Coast alongside partners including IBREAM, Rotterdam Zoo, Zoo Antwerpen, ZooParc Overloon, Givskud Zoo, and ZPOT. Through research, collaboration, and continued monitoring, these partners are helping build a greater understanding of pygmy hippos and the challenges they face in the wild. Every sighting, research milestone, and conservation effort brings hope for a future where pygmy hippos not only survive but thrive. Through the Toronto Zoo Endangered Species Reserve Fund, your Zoo is supporting the development of a conservation action management plan through the “Ivory Coast Pygmy Hippo Program: Bending the Curve.”

Your Toronto Zoo is proud to participate in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Pygmy Hippo Species Survival Plan® (SSP), a cooperative program that brings together accredited zoos and conservation organizations across North America. The SSP works to carefully manage the population in human care, ensuring animals are paired based on genetics, health, and long-term sustainability to help maintain a strong and diverse population for the future.

Kindia and Harvey, and their new little one play an important role as ambassadors for their species. Every visit to see them is a chance to learn more about pygmy hippos and the challenges they face in the wild and how collective conservation efforts can make a difference.

You can celebrate Kindia’s exciting news by adopting her today through our dedicated fundraising partner, the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy. Your support through this program helps the Zoo care for animals, offer educational experiences, and protect wildlife through vital conservation programs. By symbolically adopting Kindia, you’re helping support both mom and baby while contributing to the care and conservation efforts that make moments like this possible.

Visit wildlifeconservancy.ca to learn more and celebrate the arrival of Kindia’s baby.

At this time, please note the pygmy hippo calf is not viewable to guests or members as she enjoys important bonding time with mom, Kindia, behind the scenes in their Little Hippo Hollow. Our team is closely monitoring this critical stage of development, and we'll share updates on the calf's progress and future viewing opportunities on your Toronto Zoo's social media channels.