NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS OF SOUTH AFRICA
17 April 2013
Hip-hip-hippo calf joins the National Zoo's hippo group
The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa is proud to announce the birth of a
Common hippopotamus calf! The youngster, born in February this year, is in excellent
health and, along with its doting mother, is set to join the main hippo pool on
Thursday, 18 April 2013.
Since its birth, the little one has been in a separate enclosure adjacent to the main
hippo pools with its mother, Gertrude, aged 34. The reason for this initial separation
is to allow for the calf to adequately bond with its mother and to be kept safe. The
gender of the youngster is yet to be determined.
Other than Gertrude and her calf, the National Zoo's Common hippo group
comprises one male, named Guss (who is the 49-year old father) and another female,
named Samantha, who is 26-years-old. Samantha is heavily pregnant and staff expect
her to give birth soon.
Gertrude and her little one will walk from their adjacent enclosure to the main hippo
pools where they will join up with the group. A hippo's gestation period is eight
months' long.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies the Common hippo as
"Vulnerable". According to the IUCN, Common hippos are found in many countries
throughout sub-Saharan Africa and were previously found in virtually all suitable
habitats. However, the population trend is on the decrease due mainly to illegal and
unregulated hunting for meat and ivory (found in the canine teeth) and habitat loss.
Fast facts
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Hippos are found in open stretches of permanent water or riverine pools.
Grazing predominantly takes place at night with rest periods during the
hottest parts of the day - they lie half-submerged in water or on sandy river
banks.
Male hippos can weigh between 970 kg and two-tons. Hippos are gregarious
with herds consisting of 10-30 animals, but larger hers are not uncommon.
The hippo is the heaviest land mammal (after the elephant).
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Hippos have a unique skin that needs to be kept wet for a good part of the
day. Staying out of the water for too long can lead to dehydration, so hippos
stay in the water during the day.
They don't have true sweat glands; instead hippos secrete a thick, red
substance from their pores known as "blood sweat". The "blood sweat"
creates a layer of mucous that protects hippo skin from sunburn and keeps it
moist.
For further information, please contact Craig Allenby on [email protected] or +27 12
339 2770.
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