Antwerp Zoo welcomes pygmy hippos after 26-year absence
Antwerp Zoo is once again home to pygmy hippos as part of a European breeding programme for the endangered species. Female Nimba, from Denmark, has already arrived, and she will be joined by her partner Dabou from France in the autumn. The pair will be housed in the historic Hippo Building, located in the zoo’s Swamp Biotope.
This marks the zoo’s return to keeping pygmy hippos after a 26-year hiatus. The species is under increasing threat, with only an estimated 2,500 remaining in the wild across a limited range in West Africa, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast. Habitat loss due to deforestation, along with hunting for bushmeat, has put them at significant risk. In the wild, their natural predators, aside from humans, are crocodiles and leopards. Currently, just 130 pygmy hippos live in 64 zoos across Europe.
Adult pygmy hippos typically weigh between 180 and 275 kilograms, roughly one-tenth the weight of their larger cousins. “The pygmy hippopotamus is much smaller and somewhat more shy than its more common, larger relative,” says zookeeper Gunter. “They live solitary lives and are much more active on land. That’s why we’ve created a space where they can retreat, but where visitors can still admire them without causing stress. They have the sweetest little faces—I think everyone, just like us, will quickly become attached.”
The pygmy hippos are housed in the Hippo Building which were originally constructed in 1885 and largely destroyed during the Second World War. Rebuilt in 1952, the enclosure retained its original water basins and was later expanded in 2003 with a wetland habitat, Hippotopia, which is also home to marsh birds, Dalmatian pelicans, coypu and tapirs. The entire facility has now undergone a sustainable upgrade, including a renovated outer shell and an extended sun terrace offering panoramic views. The indoor area has been enhanced with a covered shelter and heated stones, ensuring both comfort and improved animal welfare.
The Swamp Biotope is also home to a pair of white-crested turacos, white-headed buffalo weavers, and, for the first time in Belgium, a group of palm-fringed bats. These bats hang from tree branches or vines suspended from the ceiling. With a wingspan of up to 80 centimetres and long, pointed snouts, they resemble dogs or foxes. Unlike most bats, they rely on sharp eyesight rather than echolocation and feed on fruit and a special bat pap.
“They’re incredibly cool creatures. They’re very curious, and their ears swivel in all directions. Their beady eyes sparkle with friendliness, and each one has its own distinct face," the zookeepers say.
#FlandersNewsService | © AFP PHOTO / FATI MOALUSI
Related news
