Keepers at the San Diego have determined that their 2 month old hippopotamus calf is a female.
Mother Funani didn’t want to make it easy for them though. She would keep the calf tucked into the vegetation which grows on the edge of the hippo pool. When in the viewing area she would place herself between keepers and the calf.
Now that the calf have seen it enough to known it 100% a female they have named it Devi.
Devi is Funani’s fifth calf in her time at the San Diego Zoo. Currently she weighs 40-50kg (90-110lb). While she nurses over the next six months she will grow to her adult weight of about 1590kg (3500lb).
The pair spends Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday in the 150.000 gallon (681,913L) pool. While dad Otis is in residence for the rest of the week.
Hippos are currently under threat from illegal and unregulated hunting for their meat and ivory along with habitat loss. As a result of this the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed them as vulnerable.
Photo Credit: San Diego/ Ken Bohn
