The Melbourne Zoo
Pygmy Hippopotamus

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The Pygmy Hippopotamus is native to the forests and swamps of western Africa.

It is a large mammal and is quite reclusive and nocturnal.

In August 2009 the Melbourne Zoo saw the long awaited arrival of the baby hippo, the pygmy hippopotamus, Monifa.

Born at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney this little pygmy hippo is the offspring of her much loved and viewed father, Timmy.

She has had to be hand raised as her birth was quite traumatic and her mother was unable to care for her on her own.

As the pygmy hippopotamus matures her viewing times will increase. At the moment she takes lots of naps as a young calf requires quite a lot of resting time.

Check with the Melbourne Zoo to find out when you are able to enjoy the company of the pygmy hippopotamus Monifa.

• To keep their skin moisturized and their body temperature cool, the pygmy hippopotamus spends most of its time submerged in water, thus giving rise to the name river hippopotamus
• They feed on ferns, broad leaved plants, grasses and fruits found in the forests
• There are major concerns that the pygmy hippopotamus is headed for extinction as there are less than 3000 living in the wild.

  Zoos however have managed to be able to breed them which is a such a help in the preservation of the species

• Land reclamation, deforestation and the progress on civilization encroaching into their natural habitat are the major reasons for the decline in numbers along with poaching, hunting,natural predators and waring communities.
• The male pygmy hippopotamus is known as a bull, the female as a cow and the baby hippo as a calf
• Research over the past years has identified that the species are related to Whales and Dolphins having an ancestor way back that was semi-aquatic
• The animal has short stubby legs with 4 toes on each foot, their bodies are quite rotund and chunky. Being 1/4 of the weight of their cousin the hippopotamus they are also only 1/2 as tall
• In captivity they are known to live from between 30 to 55 years.
• The pygmy hippopotamus has unusual sweat giving it a pink tinge; almost like watered down blood. This, however is actually an antiseptic fluid that also acts a s a sunscreen.

  The hippo's skin tends to dry out quickly and crack

• Their strong muscular ears and nostrils close over to avoid water getting in when they are submerged under water.

  At the Melbourne Zoo you can view the pygmy hippopotamus swimming under water through the viewing windows.

• They live either alone or in very small groups
• Rather than fight, the pygmy hippo will ignore the other animal
• They will usually rest a few days before moving on to other areas to forage for food
• They feed at dusk and forage for around 6 hours
• The Gestation period usually ranges from 190-210 days and 1 calf is usually born though twin births have been recorded
• Both mating and birthing can take place in and out of water, the common hippo only mating and birthing in water.

  The baby hippo can swim almost immediately

• The baby hippo calf is weaned between 6 and 8 months of age prior to weaning will hide submerged while its mother forages for food
• Just like a pig the baby hippo calf suckles with its mother lying on her side

	The Hippos This is the first full account of the common hippopotamus, found in East and South Africa, and the pygmy hippopotamus, inhabiting the forests of West Africa... A major contribution to mammalian and African wildlife literature, one which every mammalian and wildlife conservation collection should have. Narrated by screen legend Paul Newman and in collaboration with the celebrated BBC Natural History Unit, this ground breaking cinematic experience takes you to the heart of Africa, deep in the Kalahari Desert, to the secretive home of the fascinating Meerkat.
	Hippo Eats Dwarf The following news story apparently first appeared in the "Las Vegas Sun": 'A circus dwarf, nicknamed Od, died recently when he bounced sideways from a trampoline and was swallowed by a yawning hippopotamus waiting to appear in the next act. More than 1,000 spectators continued to applaud wildly until they realized the tragic mistake'. And yet, of course, Od never existed; which doesn't stop the story appearing every few years as a news item, set in fictional circuses from Manchester to Thailand and Sydney.
	Hugo and the Really, Really, really Long String Boyle-creator of the animated TV show Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!-sets his first book for children in a landscape that looks like an old eight-bit video game; everything is rendered in flat, squarish shapes with rough edges. The story feels pretty old school, too: Hugo, a purple hippopotamus in a neat tie, roams through town following a red string.
	The Hippo-Not-amus Portly is a young hippopotamus who isn't sure he wants to be one forever. In fact, he's quite sure that he's more suited to being some other creature entirely. And so, after speaking to Mum and Dad about things, he sets out to find his true calling in life.
	Wetlands What on EarthS The title offers an in-depth exploration of the natural world stressing environmental issues. Each spread is headed with a question which is answered in the main text. Each spread has a fact box, which highlights key concepts relating to the main theme. Full-colour illustrations and photographs bring the subject to life. It also contains an 'Amazing Facts' section
	Ngorongoro Two and a half million years ago, in what is today Northern Tanzania, the top blew off a gigantic volcanic mountain leaving behind one of the biggest craters in the world. Over the millennia the crater became a national park for wildlife. Herbivores followed vegetation to the Ngorongoro and predators followed herbivores. Men followed, too, hunting for the tusks of rhinos and elephants, and the coats of the zebra.

If you want to check to make sure that Monifa is awake then phone...

(03)9285 9300 during business hours.

Allow a good 3 hours to visit the exhibits and really experience what the zoo has to offer.

A great way to save money and budget in a lot more great Melbourne Attractions to visit, is to use the Melbourne and Beyond Smartvisit Card with free entry to over 40 different venues.

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