Brookfield Zoo welcomes new pygmy hippopotamus calf
The Brookfield Zoo has officially welcomed its newest baby animal — a female pygmy hippopotamus named Banana. This little calf will turn 3 years old on August 27, and guests can visit her in the Pachyderm House or in her outdoor habitat on the building's west side.
The zoo's last pygmy hippo Adelle lived to be 44 years old. Adelle was humanely euthanized in June 2021 due to problems associated with her advanced age.
Unlike the common river hippopotamus, the pygmy hippo is rarer and smaller. weighing between 350 and 600 pounds and reaching a body length of up to about 5.75 feet. The pygmy hippos are a member of the endangered species list, with an estimated population between 2,000 to 3,000 individuals.
