Pygmy hippopotamus

African animals

Ungulates and hoofed animals

The pygmy hippopotamus is vegetarian and its large teeth are used when it needs to defend itself. It lives near wet marshes and is most active during the afternoon and evening. The skin of the pygmy hippo is very sensitive to dehydration. It could be said that it has a built-in sun protection system, as the skin secretes a lubricating fluid that acts much like sunscreen to prevent the skin from drying out.

The pygmy hippo looks like a miniature version of its larger relative, the common hippo, but the species differ in several ways. The pygmy hippopotamus spends more time on land, they live alone or in pairs, and are more endangered than the larger hippo.

Deforestation is the main threat to the pygmy hippo. In addition, the rivers where they live are becoming increasingly polluted by human-caused pollution. The zoo participates in the European breeding programme, EEP, for the conservation of the species.

CITES B