The pygmy hippopotamus, an endangered species, was born at the Zoological Park of Attica in Athens. This is the first specimen of this species that was born in the zoo in the last 10 years.

The small number of male pygmy hippos in captivity makes breeding difficult, so zoo staff were “extremely excited” that the cub was male, zoo veterinarian Noah Psarudaki told Reuters.

“Every pygmy hippopotamus baby born in captivity is extremely important. We are very excited to see this baby grow into a healthy adult hippo and hopefully breed one day,” she said.

The lack of male pygmy hippos in captivity has proven to be a problem for population recovery.

Peter Gross, a wildlife expert, told the BBC that the birth of the pygmy hippopotamus was an “important and exciting moment” given the impact it could have on the entire species.

Gross explains that pygmy hippo breeding is as complex as it is sensitive, and that “experts and biologists do everything they can to make sure the animals feel safe and comfortable in an environment that resembles their own habitat.”

He claims that due to the solitary nature of the pygmy hippopotamus, this is no easy feat. Fortunately, he says, “there’s a lot of data and science — from monitoring, tracking and health checks” — that experts are relying on to create the best habitat for hippo replacements.

Alicia Hoogenboom understands what’s going on in these efforts from the inside. As head of the Savannah at the Attica Zoological Park, she is tasked with caring for the pygmy hippos. Hoogenbohm said that in October, she and other zookeepers noticed that “our female hippo’s belly was a little bigger than usual.” That same week, the team asked the vets to do an ultrasound, which she said “confirmed the suspicion” she expected.

Monitors followed, and the birth went smoothly.

The homeland of pygmy hippos is the swamps and tropical forests of West Africa. They are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and it is estimated that only 2,000-2,500 specimens still live in the wild.

The 7kg cub, whose name will be chosen by public vote, was born on February 19 and, along with his parents, Lizzie and Jamal, are the only pygmy hippos at the zoo.

A solitary, nocturnal animal, the hippo will stay with its mother for several months before being released into an outdoor enclosure.

Sources: Reuters, BBC, Agerpres