GODDARD – 'I want a hippopotamus for Christmas' took on a new meaning as Tanganyika Wildlife Park welcomed a new baby Pygmy hippo on Dec. 14.

The male calf – weighing only 13 pounds at birth – was born to parents Posie and Pluto, who came to the park from different zoological facilities in Florida and have become key players in safeguarding the rare species.

Posie and Pluto, the sole pygmy hippo parents in Kansas, have resided at Tanganyika Wildlife Park since 2014. This marks their fourth calf.

“Posie is an attentive mother, nursing well and keeping the baby close – a true professional,” said hoofstock keeper Sierra Smith.

There are fewer than 3,000 known Pygmy hippos worldwide. Tanganyika Wildlife Park personnel said the calf 's birth underscores the significance of Tanganyika's participation in cooperative breeding programs with other accredited zoological facilities. With a strong need for male hippos in the breeding program, they said, this latest addition holds even greater importance.

The secretive and nocturnal behavior of pygmy hippos sets them apart from their larger relatives, the Nile hippopotamus, known for living in large social groups called “bloats.” To overcome the challenges in studying pygmy hippos, researchers heavily rely on observations in zoological environments.

'Every pygmy hippo birth, whether in human care or in their native habitat, is critical for their ongoing survival,' said Dr. Samantha Russak, Tanganyika’s chief of research and welfare.

Tanganyika Wildlife Park, one of only 30 facilities in the United States housing pygmy hippos, plays a crucial role in preserving this rare species and contributing valuable knowledge about their behavior in captivity.

Tanganyika Wildlife Park has welcomed three other pygmy hippo calves in recent years, including Nessie in 2017, Yeti in 2019, and Link in 2021. Nessie has even become a parent herself, making Posie and Pluto grandparents.

The Pygmy hippo family can be seen in their habitat during the park's operating season, which will begin in March and run through November. For more information, visit www.twpark.com.