Female Pygmy Hippopotamus Born At Metro Richmond Zoo

The Metro Richmond Zoo in Moseley, Virginia, celebrated the birth of Poppy, a female pygmy hippopotamus, Dec. 9, 2024. 

Zoo officials in Virginia decided to conduct a month-long public poll after the pygmy hippo’s birth to help the zoo decide on a name. In a worldwide effort, the poll received over 116,000 votes across 165 countries, according to Metro Richmond Zoo. 

Zoo officials held multiple voting rounds to determine the pygmy hippo’s name. Poppy won with a 52.8% majority against “Hammie Mae”, according to the zoo. Now fans can watch Poppy grow and play on her 24/7 livestream, located on the Metro Richmond Zoo’s website. 

Poppy is not the first pygmy hippo to obtain celebrity status. “Moo Deng” rose to fame in summer 2024 after zoo officials at the Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand snapped photos of the hippo and posted them on the zoo’s social media platforms.  

Native to West Africa, pygmy hippos often reside near rivers, ponds and other bodies of water. According to World Wildlife Fund, pygmy hippos can be found in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire. Pygmy hippos weigh about one-tenth of a typical hippopotamus’ weight and stand at only 31 inches tall.  

To honor Poppy’s birth, the Metro Richmond Zoo is focusing on pygmy hippos for their bi-annual “Run Wild Races” event. The event, which aims to raise funds for animal conservation efforts involves a 5K race, a one-mile race and an obstacle course. It will be hosted May 3 and marks the zoo’s 10th Run Wild Races event. According to Run Wild Races, 100% of the proceeds this year will be donated toward the preservation of the endangered pygmy hippo species. 

Over the last few decades, pygmy hippos have faced a significant loss in numbers, with approximately 2,500 remaining in the wild. According to Pygmy Hippo Foundation, poaching and environmental changes are among the biggest threats to the population, and they are now classified as an endangered species. According to the Metro Richmond Zoo, the birth of Poppy marks an important milestone as she is helping to raise awareness to protect her kind. 

For more information and live updates of Poppy, visit www.metrorichmondzoo.com. 

Long is a staff writer for the Liberty Champion.