8News gets first up close look at Richmond’s new baby Pygmy hippo
Dec 31, 2024
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The Metro Richmond Zoo said 52,794 people cast their votes to name their new baby Pygmy hippo. But none of the four options -- Poppy, Juniper, Hammie Mae and Omi -- got over 50% of the vote that closed Tuesday, so the top two names are headed to a runoff.
The final two names for the public to vote on are now Hammie Mae and Poppy. You can vote for the baby Pygmy hippo's name at the Metro Richmond Zoo website.
It was overnight that the baby hippo captured hearts across the world. Since Tuesday, the public can now go see her and her mom for themselves.
"She’s a curious and brave little Pygmy hippo," lead zookeeper Jan Lopez said.
PREVIOUSLY: Vote to name new baby pygmy hippo at Metro Richmond Zoo
On Dec. 9, the hippo's mother, Iris, gave birth to the little hippo with perfectly dewy skin, plump pink cheeks and neck rolls for days.
"She’s pretty funny," Lopez said. "She sometimes has her little zoomies and she’ll hop around.”
Iris was pregnant for seven months, but the birth only took about 15 minutes. She got to the zoo when they opened their Hippo Haven back in 2018, then came her boyfriend Corwin. This is their third baby in five years.
"It’s actually quite amazing the amount of people who know about this little baby right here," Lopez said. "And it’s really special.”
The Metro Richmond Zoo quickly began making headlines after debuting the calf on social media, getting everyone involved by letting the public pick her name.
Tuesday was the first day she was on display, so now people can head to the Hippo Haven to see her and her mom through the glass.
Their day-to-day goes a little like this -- they wake up in their room, and the baby will lead where they go next.
"She will take the first steps, and wherever she goes, Iris will go," Lopez said.
They’ll probably do some nursing and end up in the pool. Pygmy hippos need to keep their skin wet and moisturized. Later on, the zookeepers will ring a bell.
"Which Iris already knows ... means it’s food time," Lopez said.
Of course, she’s cute to look at, but she’s also helping with the conservation of the Pygmy hippo species, an endangered species with only around 3,000 left in the wild.
"This baby hippo right here is going to be very important and vital to spread genetics here in the upcoming future with other hippos throughout the U.S.," Lopez said.
And while she looks like a little football with legs right now, in three years she’ll be full-grown and could weigh up to 600 pounds.
"I'm sure the more she grows, we’ll see more of her personality shine through," Lopez said.
If you want to come see this adorable hippo, the zoo is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.