Pygmy Hippopotamus

Pygmy hippos are very rare animals and little is known about them. They are sparsely spread over four African countries: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. There are no more than 3000 left in the wild. Since the end of the last century it has been strictly prohibited to capture these animals. They are listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, experts believe that in the next 20 years their population will decrease by 20% as a result of deforestation, national conflicts, and poaching.

Yekaterinburg Zoo was given permission to obtain a female pygmy hippopotamus as part of a programme to conserve the species.

These even-toed ungulates live alone. They are not ones to defend their territory from invading neighbours. When they come into contact with one another, they are not aggressive. During the daytime they prefer to rest in the water, and at night they go into the forest to feed.