The Metro Richmond Zoo is leaning into the popular holiday tune “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” to announce the birth of a female calf two weeks ago.
In the tune, child star and singer Gayla Rienette Peevey asked Santa for a hippo like the one she saw at the zoo over the summer.
The Richmond zoo welcomed a baby pygmy hippo newborn on Dec. 9, just in time to tie the birth to the holiday song.
The calf was born in the water. She weighed 15 pounds at five days old.
In Peevey’s hit song, she said she could keep the mammal in their garage. However, fully grown pygmy hippos can weigh up to 600 pounds.
The pygmy hippo is an endangered species so this birth helps protect the species, according to the zoo.
In Virginia, the Metro Richmond Zoo is the only place where visitors can see hippos. Iris, the mom, and the baby, who has yet to be named, were moved off exhibit to give them privacy while they bond.
This is Iris’ third calf in four and a half years, and her second calf to arrive right before the holidays.
Naming the female calf
A contest was launched to name the new baby hippo.
The list of names has been narrowed down to:
- Poppy (a flower like her mom’s name)
- Juniper (an evergreen shrub to remember winter)
- Hammie Mae (sweet and southern tie to Virginia ham)
- Omi (means “water” in Yoruba, a language spoken in West Africa)
Votes may be made online through Dec. 31 at 2 p.m. The official name will be announced on New Year’s Day.
Meet the baby hippo
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Crystal Graham
