Baby hippo: LA zoo gets rare surprise
Baby hippo born at LA zoo comes as a bit of a surprise, although staffers had noticed the mother hippos had gained weight. The baby hippo born at the LA zoo is the first in 26 years.
A mother hippo and her new-born baby hippo at their enclosure at the LA Zoo. The Zoo’s female hippopotamus, Mara, went into labor on Friday, Oct. 31 and gave birth to a healthy calf. This is the first hippopotamus calf the Zoo has had in 26 years.
Los Angeles Zoo/AP/File
LOS ANGELES
The Los Angeles Zoo is celebrating the birth of its first hippopotamus in 26 years.
The zoo says the baby was born Friday. It was somewhat of a surprise, but staffers had noticed the mother hippo gained weight, which made them suspect she was pregnant.
Vets haven't determined the sex of the new hippo. But they say the baby appears to be doing well and is bonding with mom.
Media will get to see the newborn Tuesday in its public debut.
The mother, 10-year-old Mara, came to the zoo in December from Topeka, Kansas. The father is a 3-year-old named Adhama, who arrived from the San Diego Zoo last year.