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On march 18, 2014, a new and much-welcomed member joined the Zoo Basel in Switzerland.
The baby, named 'Lani,' has joined the ranks of just 135 pygmy hippos in the endangered species programme, and is the first to be born at Zoo Basel in over 14 years!
1 1 Has Slimy Ever Been This Cute?
When Lani was born, she was the size of a rabbit, and weighed just 2.5 kilograms (11.4 pounds) ... that's half the weight of most domestic house cats.
Since her birth, Lani has put on 14 kilograms (30 pounds) ... not too bad for a couple of months' work. Don't let her pygmy status fool you – this is only the begining of Lani's weight gain. Her mother, 'Ashaki,' curently weighs in at a whopping 200 kg (440 pounds)!
2 2 Bad Hair Day
Weighing the little hippo each day allows the zoo staff to check on her feeding success.
"Her weight gain offers information about whether she is drinking regularly," they said in a press release. "The little one has now begun to show some interest in solid food and nibbles on fennel or leaves."
3 3 Milk-Drinking Machine
Spring in Switzerland is very chilly. With average temperatures nearing two degrees Celsius (35 degrees Fahrenheit), it has been far too cold for the tiny hippo to venture outside over the past two months – but lucky for Lani, that's all beginning to change.
As summer approaches and the days get warmer, Lani is now allowed five hours per day outside with her mother (when the sun is out). She is proving to be an adventurous baby, who loves to swim.
4 4 Warming Weather Means Bath Time for Lani
Pygmy hippos were once thought to sweat blood. We now know they don't, but early explorers were duped by the clear, mucus-like fluid that oozes continuously from glands on the surface of the hippos' skin, which can look reddish in colour under certain conditions.
The 'blood sweat' creates a layer that protects hippo skin from sunburn and keeps it moist. It is thought that the oozy substance may also prevent infections, but few studies have been done on its function.
5 5 Covered in SnotIn the wild, pygmy hippos feed on a diet of grass, leaves, herbs, and fallen fruit. They are quiet animals, but occasionally make snorting and grunting sounds that can travel far into the bush.
6 6 Nom Nom NomNative to the forests of West Africa, pygmy hippos are known for being elusive and hard to study. They are largely nocturnal, and little is known about their breeding patterns, migration, or habitat. In fact, the only detailed study of their ecology was done in 1970.
Lani seems to be embodying this sneaky species trend quite well.
"She loves to hide in the bushes, so zoo visitors need a little luck and patience if they want to spot her," the zoo staff said.
7 7 Invisible HippoThough conservation actions have ensured the success of the species in captivity, for pygmy hippos in the wild, the future remains uncertain.
It is estimated that fewer than three thousand of these beautiful animals exist in the world – their biggest threat ... is human development. The land within their range has been steadily logged, farmed and settled, pushing the hippos deeper into disappearing forests.
They are also often taken opportunistically by bushmeat poachers. Zoo Basel is working closely with other organizations to push for increased conservation efforts and increased awareness in West Africa.
"[These animals] live in the rainforests of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Until very recently these countries were dominated by political unrest and instability, which is why only very few researchers and conservationists have become involved there," the staff said. "We donate 17,000 swiss francs (20,000 dollars) per year to a conservation project established by international nature conservation organizations in Sierra Leone."
8 8 An Uncertain Future
On march 18, 2014, a new and much-welcomed member joined the Zoo Basel in Switzerland.
The baby, named 'Lani,' has joined the ranks of just 135 pygmy hippos in the endangered species programme, and is the first to be born at Zoo Basel in over 14 years!
1 Has Slimy Ever Been This Cute?
When Lani was born, she was the size of a rabbit, and weighed just 2.5 kilograms (11.4 pounds) ... that's half the weight of most domestic house cats.
Since her birth, Lani has put on 14 kilograms (30 pounds) ... not too bad for a couple of months' work. Don't let her pygmy status fool you – this is only the begining of Lani's weight gain. Her mother, 'Ashaki,' curently weighs in at a whopping 200 kg (440 pounds)!
2 Bad Hair Day
Weighing the little hippo each day allows the zoo staff to check on her feeding success.
"Her weight gain offers information about whether she is drinking regularly," they said in a press release. "The little one has now begun to show some interest in solid food and nibbles on fennel or leaves."
3 Milk-Drinking Machine
Spring in Switzerland is very chilly. With average temperatures nearing two degrees Celsius (35 degrees Fahrenheit), it has been far too cold for the tiny hippo to venture outside over the past two months – but lucky for Lani, that's all beginning to change.
As summer approaches and the days get warmer, Lani is now allowed five hours per day outside with her mother (when the sun is out). She is proving to be an adventurous baby, who loves to swim.
4 Warming Weather Means Bath Time for Lani
Pygmy hippos were once thought to sweat blood. We now know they don't, but early explorers were duped by the clear, mucus-like fluid that oozes continuously from glands on the surface of the hippos' skin, which can look reddish in colour under certain conditions.
The 'blood sweat' creates a layer that protects hippo skin from sunburn and keeps it moist. It is thought that the oozy substance may also prevent infections, but few studies have been done on its function.
5 Covered in SnotIn the wild, pygmy hippos feed on a diet of grass, leaves, herbs, and fallen fruit. They are quiet animals, but occasionally make snorting and grunting sounds that can travel far into the bush.
6 Nom Nom NomNative to the forests of West Africa, pygmy hippos are known for being elusive and hard to study. They are largely nocturnal, and little is known about their breeding patterns, migration, or habitat. In fact, the only detailed study of their ecology was done in 1970.
Lani seems to be embodying this sneaky species trend quite well.
"She loves to hide in the bushes, so zoo visitors need a little luck and patience if they want to spot her," the zoo staff said.
7 Invisible HippoThough conservation actions have ensured the success of the species in captivity, for pygmy hippos in the wild, the future remains uncertain.
It is estimated that fewer than three thousand of these beautiful animals exist in the world – their biggest threat ... is human development. The land within their range has been steadily logged, farmed and settled, pushing the hippos deeper into disappearing forests.
They are also often taken opportunistically by bushmeat poachers. Zoo Basel is working closely with other organizations to push for increased conservation efforts and increased awareness in West Africa.
"[These animals] live in the rainforests of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Until very recently these countries were dominated by political unrest and instability, which is why only very few researchers and conservationists have become involved there," the staff said. "We donate 17,000 swiss francs (20,000 dollars) per year to a conservation project established by international nature conservation organizations in Sierra Leone."
8 An Uncertain Future