A public vote has opened to name a newborn pygmy hippopotamus calf at the Metro Richmond Zoo.
The calf was born on December 9, per a Christmas Eve news release from Virginia-based zoo Announce.
“Hello hippo! The Zoo is pleased to announce a heartwarming addition to our animal family just in time for the holidays: a baby pygmy hippopotamus. The newborn arrived on December 9, 2024, after a 7-month gestation. Congratulations to the parents of the pygmy hippopotamus,” the zoo said. In Mosley's statement: “Iris and Corwin upon the birth of another little girl.”
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The zoo said that the unnamed calf is the third hippopotamus pair in the past four and a half years, and the second to be born on Christmas.
The release included a video of the zoo's newest resident walking around with her mother. The video is set to the Christmas carol “I Want a Hippo for Christmas.”
The Metro Richmond Zoo in Moseley, Virginia, said the pygmy hippopotamus was born on December 9. (Metro Richmond Zoo)
“Most people don't get that hippopotamus “Every Christmas, so we feel lucky to have received two over the years,” the Metro Richmond Zoo said.
Iris placed this calf in the water, which was her first birth in water, according to the zoo. Pygmy hippopotamuses, unlike their larger, more common counterparts, give birth on land and in water.
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The zoo noted that “the baby's natural instincts began to move in the water immediately.”
The newborn weighs a “healthy 15 pounds” and will weigh up to 600 pounds when fully grown, the statement noted.
On Friday, December 27, the Metro Richmond Zoo launched a survey to name the new calf.
The newborn calf weighed 15 pounds when she was five days old, the zoo said. (Metro Richmond Zoo)
Choices include Poppy, Juniper, Hammy Mae and Omi.
The poppy was chosen in honor of Her mother The floral name, Juniper, is a nod to its winter birthday, Hammie Mae is a “sweet, southern Virginia ham tie” and Omi is a Yoruba word for “water,” according to the Metro Richmond Zoo.
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The zoo said in an update posted on its website and Facebook page that the survey received an “amazing response” in the first 24 hours of being open.
“We are thrilled to see so many people joining in on the fun of naming this adorable pygmy hippopotamus baby.”
“We are thrilled to see so many people joining in on the fun of naming this adorable pygmy hippopotamus baby,” the zoo said.
The zoo received more than 14,000 votes from “hippo lovers around the world” during the first day of voting.
The newborn pygmy hippopotamus, right, was the third cub born to its mother, Iris, left. (Metro Richmond Zoo)
The Metro Richmond Zoo explained that if no name wins an absolute majority of votes, there will be a second vote with the top two contenders.
The zoo also posted a graph of the results so far but declined to say which name was at the top.
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The poll will close on December 31 at 2pm, and the winning name will be announced on New Year's Day.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Metro Richmond Zoo for additional comment.
The name of the pygmy hippopotamus will be announced on New Year's Day, according to the Metro Richmond Zoo. (Metro Richmond Zoo)
A newborn pygmy hippo was born at the Metro Richmond Zoo months after Mo Ding, another pygmy hippopotamus, went viral for his strange behavior in Thailand.
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