baby pygmy hippo at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
A rare baby hippo at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo as takes a dip in her outdoor pool for the very first time. Pygmy hippo calf Georgina, who stars in ITV1 documentary, The Zoo, tomorrow night, has spent the last few months tucked up indoors with mum, Flora, building up her confidence in preparation for taking the plunge in the Zoo’s public pool. Just like the name hippopotamus - which means water horse - suggests, Georgina loves nothing more than having a swim, and her debut dip is a sign of the ten-month-old’s growing independence. Head keeper of ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s Africa section, Mark Holden, said: “Georgina’s smaller, shallower pool indoors was the perfect place for her to learn to swim under the close eye of mum, Flora, who’s really helped her to thrive. “Georgina used to stick close to Flora but over the last few weeks she’s really grown in confidence and has become much more independent. We’re looking forward to seeing what she makes of her outdoor paddock and new surroundings when she sees them for the first time.” Viewers will see Georgina and Flora’s close bond in tomorrow night’s episode of The Zoo – 26-year-old Flora has been diagnosed with mouth cancer and it’s touch and go whether she’ll be around to see baby Georgina grow up. With less than 3,000 pygmy hippos left, Georgina is an important addition to the European Endangered species Programme (EEP), and for the conservation of pygmy hippo’s worldwide. pictures Brian Jordan/Retna pictures
Size: 4898px × 3337px
Photo credit: © Cpuk / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: africa, baby, choeropsis, coastpygmy, forests, guinea, hexaprotodon, hippo, hippopotamid, hippopotamus, ivory, leone, liberia, liberiensis, nocturnal, pr, pygmy, reclusive, sierra, small, swamps, west, whipsnade, zoo, zsl
