This Virginia zoo really got a hippopotamus for Christmas - CNN

CNN  — 

Fifties’ kid prima Gayla Peevy’s plea for a “hippopotamus for Christmas” came existent for 1 Virginia zoo.

The Metro Richmond Zoo welcomed the commencement of a pygmy hippopotamus successful clip for Christmas, according to a December 22 quality merchandise from the zoo.

The adorable newborn was calved connected December 6, says the release. The yet-unnamed babe was calved to parents Iris and Corwin aft a 7-month pregnancy.

The babe is the 2nd pygmy hippo calved ever successful Virginia, according to the zoo. And she’s increasing rapidly. She weighed successful astatine 16 pounds astatine birth, and a week aboriginal was already 24.2 pounds. As an adult, she mightiness measurement up to 600 pounds.

The zoo described Iris arsenic “an experienced parent and precise caring of her baby.” Mother and babe are presently successful a backstage “super cozy, hay-bedded enclosure.” But soon guests volition beryllium capable to spot the caller summation erstwhile the brace determination into the indoor excavation area, says the zoo.

Pygmy hippos are categorized arsenic endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. There are little than 2,500 big pygmy hippos near successful the chaotic successful Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.