This photo by the Zoological Society of London shows an endangered pygmy hippopotamus last month in Liberia.
“The pygmy hippo is an extraordinary, mysterious creature that has almost never been seen in the wild," researcher Ben Collen says in a statement. "The Zoological Society of London’s EDGE programme identified it as a species in need of urgent conservation attention and so we set out to previously war-torn Liberia, one of the species’ last refuges, to search for survivors. We were delighted to discover that a population still persists there, but remain highly concerned for the species, which continues to face significant threats from poaching and habitat degradation."
Pygmy Hippo
Order: Artiodactyla
Suborder: Suiformes
Family: Hippopotamidae
Genus/species: Hexaprotodon liberiensis
Natural History
Pygmy hippopotamuses are members of the family Hippopotamidae, along with the larger Nile hippopotamuses. Their next closest living relatives are pigs and peccaries.
In the wild, pygmy hippopotamuses are rare and it seems that there may never have been many of them in existence at any one time.
In 1927 Harvey Firestone (who owned a large rubber plantation in Liberia) gave President Calvin Coolidge a male pygmy hippo named Billy as a gift. Billy is the ancestor to almost all pygmy hippos living in American zoos.
Description
At first glance, pygmy hippopotamuses resemble their larger relatives, Nile hippopotamuses. But, on closer examination, several differences can be noted. Pygmy hippopotamuses are smaller. They weigh 350 to 550 pounds (158.8 to 249.5 kg), stand about two and a half feet (0.8 m) tall at the shoulder, and measure about five feet (1.5 m) from head to tail. They are more pig-like in shape than Nile hippopotamuses, with proportionately smaller heads and proportionately longer legs and necks. Their tail hairs are branched, not unbranched as found on Nile hippopotamuses. Nile Hippo Fact Sheet
Pygmy hippopotamuses are more terrestrial than Nile hippopotamuses but are good swimmers and have strong muscular valves that close their ears and nostrils when submerged. They also produce a whitish secretion that moistens and protects their skin. Unlike Nile hippopotamuses, their eyes are placed on the sides of the head and their nostrils are low on the face. The four digits on each foot are more widely spread and have little inter-digit webbing, giving pygmy hippopotamuses more secure footing on land.
Distribution and Habitat
The pygmy hippopotamus is found in West Africa, mainly confined to Liberia, with small numbers in the neighboring countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast. They prefer dense, swampy forests near rivers, streams and creeks. On the map, the distribution of Nile hippos is shown in yellow, that of the pygmy hippo in orange.
Diet in the Wild
Pygmy hippopotamuses are herbivores and feed on various vegetation, including succulents, tender shoots, leaves, roots, grasses, and fallen fruit. Unlike Nile hippopotamuses, pygmy hippopotamuses also feed on aquatic plants. They usually begin feeding in the afternoon, and continue until midnight. Hippopotamuses have multi-chambered stomachs that function like that of ruminants, however they do not chew cud. They do enjoy some of the advantages of rumination, but are classified as pseudoruminants.
Zoo Diet
The pygmy hippopotamuses are each fed one flake of alfalfa twice a day. This is a leguminous forage plant (like peas, beans, clover), which is high in protein and a good source of vitamin E and selenium. They are also fed two to three pounds (0.9 to 1.4 kg) of Low Protein Herbivore Pellets per day. These are specially prepared for large herbivores and include vitamin and mineral supplements. They receive two pounds (0.9 kg) of kale per day and apples, grapes, and bamboo as treats.
Social Structure
Because of their secretive, nocturnal habits, little is known about their lifestyle. Much of our knowledge comes from observations of pygmy hippopotamuses in zoos, where they breed well and are considered to be self-sustaining. Pygmy hippopotamuses are not typically gregarious and live singly or in pairs. Days are usually spent hidden in swamps, wallows or rivers. Pygmy hippopotamuses are not considered territorial. Instead a male wanders over a home range that overlaps with other male home ranges and includes a number of female ranges in its borders. When moving through their home range, pygmy hippopotamuses follow fixed, well-defined paths through the underbrush. These paths are marked with dung or muck-spreading, which is spread by tail wagging during defecation. Males may fight for access to females using their teeth and jaws, similar to male Nile hippopotamuses.
Reproduction
When pygmy hippopotamuses are found together it is usually a male and female consorting before mating. This sort of courtship is not seen in the Nile hippopotamuses. They have been known to mate in and out of the water. Pygmy hippopotamuses reach reproductive maturity at about three years. Gestation is six to seven months, after which a single calf is born, usually on land. The newborn weighs ten to 14 pounds (4.5 to 6.4 kg).
Life Span
Their potential life span is believed to be between 30 and 50 years.
Status
Pygmy hippopotamuses are extremely rare in the wild, with probably no more than a few thousand animals remaining. Their primary threat is loss of their forest habitat due to the timber industry. In addition, they have been hunted extensively for food and trophies (teeth), and are often killed to prevent the damage they can do to riverside gardens. Political and civil unrest in the region also poses a threat to pygmy hippopotamus survival. The Sarpo National Park in Liberia provides suitable habitat for the pygmy hippopotamus and therefore provides some hope for their survival in the future. The Nigerian population may already be extinct.
Today, pygmy hippopotamuses are listed on Appendix II of CITES. IUCN classifies them as Vulnerable and the pygmy hippopotamuses in Nigeria as Critically Endangered. More information can be found on the IUCN Hippo Specialist Group website,
http://moray.ml.duke.edu/projects/hippos/index.html.
Although endangered in the wild, the pygmy hippopotamus does breed well in zoos. In November 2003, there are 178 pygmy hippopotamuses in 74 collections around the world. Most, if not all, of these animals were born in zoos to zoo-born parents.
The National Zoo is a participant in the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's Species Survival Plan for this animal. Since 1929, 58 of these rare animals have been born at the Zoo. Over the years, the Zoo has sent pygmy hippopotamuses to zoos in Portland, Fort Worth, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Thailand.
Commonly Asked Questions
1. Are pygmy hippos friendly?
Although pygmy hippopotamuses look relatively small and docile, they can be extremely aggressive when it comes to protecting their home or enclosure. They are not thought to be social animals. However, our animals are familiar with their daily Zoo routine and do recognize their keepers as food providers.
2. Could they hurt you?
Yes. They have large, sharp, tusk-like canine teeth that are used for protection and defense.
3. Why do they open their mouths?
That is usually a threat display. By opening their jaws and exhibiting their canines, the hippopotamuses hope to intimidate possible enemies. Also, our animals have been conditioned to open their mouth so keepers can inspect their teeth. Keepers give them treats to reinforce this behavior.
4. What is the white oil on the pygmy hippo's body?
Pygmy hippopotamuses produce this oil naturally. It protects their skin against water loss. more on hippo sweat
5. Do the pygmy hippos go outdoors during the winter?
That depends on the weather. When temperatures are below 45 degrees F (7.2 degrees C) or there is ice on the ground, the animals are usually kept indoors. In the winter the indoor pool water is kept at 80 degrees F (26.7 degrees C), and the pools are cleaned twice a day.
6. Will they breed?
The National Zoo currently is not breeding pygmy hippopotamuses. We have had 58 births since the arrival of our first pygmy hippopotamus in 1927. The genetic lines of the female are well represented in the zoo community, and she is not a breeding candidate. In the future, the Zoo may acquire a breeding female.
7. How closely related are pygmy and Nile hippos?
Pygmy and Nile hippopotamuses are both members of the same family of mammals Hippopotamidae. At first glance they may look and act very much alike; but they are, in fact, two very distinct species with different lifestyles and physical adaptations. Nile Hippo Fact Sheet
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