A public vote is now open to name the newborn female pygmy hippopotamus calf at the Metro Richmond Zoo.
The calf was born on Dec. 9, according to a Christmas Eve news release from the Virginia-based zoo.
“Hippo hooray! The zoo is thrilled to introduce a heartwarming addition to our animal family just in time for the holidays: a baby pygmy hippo. The newborn arrived on December 9, 2024, after a 7-month gestation. Congratulations to pygmy hippo parents Iris and Corwin on the birth of another little girl,” the zoo in Mosley said in the release.
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The unnamed calf is the hippo couple’s third in the last 4½ years, the zoo said, and is the second born at Christmastime.
The release included a video of the zoo’s newest resident playing in her enclosure with her mother. The video was set to the Christmas carol “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”Â
The pygmy hippopotamus was born on Dec. 9, as stated by the Metro Richmond Zoo in Mosley, Va. (Metro Richmond Zoo)
“Most people don’t get a hippopotamus for Christmas at all, so we feel lucky to have received two over the years,” the Metro Richmond Zoo said.
Iris delivered this calf in water, her first water birth, according to the zoo. Pygmy hippopotamuses, unlike their larger, more common counterparts, give birth on both land and in water.
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“The baby’s natural instincts kicked in, and she started moving around in the water immediately,” the zoo noted.
The newborn weighed in at “a healthy 15 pounds” and will weigh up to 600 pounds when she is fully grown, the release noted.
On Friday, Dec. 27, the Metro Richmond Zoo started a poll to name the new calf.
Choices for naming the calf include Poppy, Juniper, Hammie Mae, and Omi.
Poppy was chosen as a tribute to her mother’s floral name, Juniper is a nod to her winter birthday, Hammie Mae is a sweet and southern reference to Virginia ham, and Omi means “water” in Yoruba, according to the Metro Richmond Zoo.
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The poll received an “incredible response” within the first 24 hours it was open, with more than 14,000 votes from hippo fans worldwide, the zoo said in an update posted on its website and Facebook page.
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“We’re thrilled to see so many people joining in on the fun of naming our adorable pygmy hippo baby,” the zoo added.
The zoo clarified that if no name received a majority of votes, a second vote would include the top two contenders.
The zoo also shared a graph of the results so far but did not disclose the leading name.
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The voting closes on Dec. 31 at 2 p.m., and the winning name will be announced on New Year’s Day.
Fox News Digital contacted the Metro Richmond Zoo for further commentary.
