Move over, Moo Deng — America has a new baby pygmy hippo to obsess over.
As USA Today reports, Jellybean the baby pygmy hippo – named via a public vote – is the newest breakout star at Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park, Arizona, about 20 miles outside of Phoenix as first reported by The Arizona Republic .
Born in late January, Jellybean made her official debut Feb. 10, when the zoo announced her arrival on social media. The birth was described as “rare and important,” marking a major milestone in the zoo’s commitment to conservation and the care of threatened species.
Zoo Asked for Public’s Help in Naming the Tot
The zoo turned to the public for help naming the baby hippo, giving fans until Feb. 22 to vote on a candy-themed name, a nod to Jellybean’s parents, Lollipop and Tootsie Roll. The final contenders were Cadbury, Twixi, Jellybean and Taffy and the zoo said it received thousands of votes from fans eager to name the baby hippo.
The big reveal came on Feb. 23, when the zoo announced the winning name on social media. “With the weather warming up, she’ll be out on exhibit hanging out with mom,” Wildlife World Zoo President Kristy Hayden said in a video announcing the result.
Pygmy Hippos are Endangered
Pygmy hippos are endangered, with fewer than 2,500–3,000 left in the wild, primarily due to habitat loss from deforestation, logging, mining, and agricultural expansion in West Africa. Their remaining populations are fragmented and threatened by hunting/poaching for bushmeat, civil unrest, and increased human encroachment.
Pygmy hippos typically live in forests and nearby swamps. They are rarely seen by humans and are extremely difficult to study in the wild, according to the zoo. “This makes the arrival of this calf especially meaningful for conservation awareness and education efforts led by Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park,” add Hayden.
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Photo Credit: Sanit Fuangnakhon / Shutterstock.com