North American Common Hippopotamus Population

Eletan888 said:
Like there seems to not be many breeding groups as one might expect. Is this a space issue? I know their expensive to house and a lot of facilities have smaller, outdated exhibits.
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Interest in holding hippos has been somewhat declining, with several facilities phasing out and not looking to return to the species. The longevity of hippos allows for some flexibility in the breeding management.

Eletan888 said:
I think I read somewhere a while ago that the TAG program is pushing facilities to house groups of 4-8 individuals instead of the common pair or trio . Is this true?
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This is considered ideal for facilities looking to add them (very few if any right now within the next few years) or expanding exhibits. However not many places have the capability for this currently. The goal is to have space available even if a few facilities phase out.

Eletan888 said:
Is the SSPs future looking ok genetics wise?
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It's a bit complicated, there's a lot of unknown genetic status in the population. As a whole however they are doing okay for now and have Signature (formerly green) SSP status.
 
According to an email I got from them asking for information on it, Safari Niagara's hippo calf born last year to Bobo and Gladys has recently been moved to another undisclosed facility.
Hi there,

Unfortunately, the baby hippo has been moved to another facility, so I do not have that information available to you.


My apologies for any convenience.


Thank you,

Eden


Guest Services

Email: info@safariniagara.com

Tel.: 905-382-9669

2821 Stevensville Road, Stevensville, ON L0S 1S0

https://safariniagara.com
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
According to an email I got from them asking for information on it, Safari Niagara's hippo calf born last year to Bobo and Gladys has recently been moved to another undisclosed facility.
Hi there,

Unfortunately, the baby hippo has been moved to another facility, so I do not have that information available to you.


My apologies for any convenience.


Thank you,

Eden


Guest Services

Email: info@safariniagara.com

Tel.: 905-382-9669

2821 Stevensville Road, Stevensville, ON L0S 1S0

https://safariniagara.com
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That's an interesting response - hopefully the calf is indeed alive and well at another facility. It's unusual that the calf has been moved on so quickly, as it would only be eleven months old now.

If it was indeed moved - I'm assuming it's remained within Canada. I can't think of any possible facilities - aside from Zoo De Granby or even a new, private facility maybe?
 
Jambo said:
That's an interesting response - hopefully the calf is indeed alive and well at another facility. It's unusual that the calf has been moved on so quickly, as it would only be eleven months old now.

If it was indeed moved - I'm assuming it's remained within Canada. I can't think of any possible facilities - aside from Zoo De Granby or even a new, private facility maybe?
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I saw that comment that he was transferred to another facility in a Facebook post. I think the zoo said he was a male, so people said that he could not be housed with his father. I do not think the hippo has moved yet, but he is in the process of being transferred. So I messaged Safari Niagara, they replied to me in a private message saying that he went to a facility in the United States. Though they did not say which facility he went to. They also said in another message that he will be participating in the SSP. I find it strange that they are breeding him since he is inbred and Safari Niagara doesn't participate in the SSP.
Here is the message:
"The juvenile hippo has since been weaned and is in the process of being transferred to another accredited facility in the United States. As such, the young one will not be on display this year, as weaning it off Gladys is a critical part of it’s journey into independence and adulthood. Bobo and Gladys have since been reunited and are excited to get right back to swimming in the pond, basking in the sun together, and of course, receiving lots of healthy treats from all of you at our Hippo Observation & Feeding Deck!"
 
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Zoo adventures said:
Though they did not say which facility he went to. They also said in another message that he will be participating in the SSP. I find it strange that they are breeding him since he is inbred and Safari Niagara doesn't participate in the SSP.
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Did they directly say the SSP or just breeding? Because in this case I would be more inclined to assume accredited being ZAA same as Safari Niagara.
 
Jefferson said:
Also I believe the male hippo is inbred? I think the parents are half siblings, so I don't think AZA would be too inclined to put him in the SSP?
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It depends on his genetic value to the population — I can think of one animal in the SSP for another population who is 37.50% inbred, having only a single male in her pedigree going back three generations, but her lineage is unestablished in the region (only present through the import of three animals, all inbred to 25 - 37.5%) and very valuable
 
Denver Zoo has announced that their lone male hippo Mahali will be leaving the zoo for a wildlife preserve in Texas in the fall, and the zoo has no plans to replace him. He will join an older female hippo in a 3-acre exhibit at his new home, though it does give further details regarding the exact facility or the details of the female hippo.
Big Moves for Mahali
 
I have just found a very strong contender as to where Mahali is moving to, the West Texas Wildlife Preserve in Merkel.

The preserve acquired 1.1 geriatric animals from Puerto Rico, 1.0 Pippo (probably the same bull as "Jeronimo", age 57 in 2023) and 0.1 Cindy (age 54 in 2023) from Dr. Juan. A. Rivero Zoo in Puerto Rico in 2023.
https://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/...eder-seeks-community-help-as-food-bill-rises/

However, based on information @Yazziel received on page 4 of this thread, Pippo/Jeronimo is listed the at age 57 and Cindy at age 53 as of December 2021 making the pair even older, so there is some confusion regarding their ages.
Yazziel said:
Theres also a population of 3 in Puerto Rico in two different facilities
Zoo Dr. Juan A. Rivero
  • Cindy (F) is 53
  • Jeronimo (M) is 57
Parque de la Ciencia
  • Tommy (M) is 49
Theres no official records for any of them and I find their ages hard to believe and both facilities have been closed since 2017. But I do have confirmation that all 3 are still alive.
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If this is indeed Mahali's new home, Pippo, who would be the same animal as "Jeronimo", would have died at the preserve sometime in the past two years, though if his age of 57 years as of 2021 was accurate, he would have surpassed the age of 60 if he died only recently! Cindy would be 56-57 years old right now, so I do wonder how she will do with introductions to Mahali if he does end up here considering their age difference.

The article above from 2023 also states that they will be building a new, insulated barn for future hippos that live there.

All this is just speculation, I have no confirmation if it is where he is moving to or not, but it sounds very realistic considering Mahali will have the companionship of an "older female".
 
ABQ BioPark's Karen delivered a calf on October 14th, her fourth sired by Moe: 172K views · 4K reactions | **CONTENT WARNING: LIVE BIRTH** Hip-Hippo Hooray! The ABQ BioPark is thrilled to announce an exciting birth at the Zoo. Experienced parents, hippos Karen and Moe, welcomed their fourth calf together just after 9 am this morning, October 14. 24-year-old Karen has been under expert prenatal care since her pregnancy was confirmed earlier this year. She went into labor this morning and was monitored by her care team through her quick and successful birth, captured below (Note: there is some blood present in the video). Like the experienced mother she is, she immediately made sure the calf could get to shallow ground to catch its breath and began bonding. To allow them privacy, the hippo habitat is temporarily closed to guests. Hippo mothers are extremely protective of their young, so when the area reopens guests may see her keep both Moe and Matilda at a distance while she nurses and bonds with the new bundle of joy. Watch our socials for news of when the area will reopen to guests! Moe, the calf’s father, will turn 52 years old next month and is among the oldest male hippos in North America! As a senior hippo, his continued contribution to the conservation of his species and enduring legacy are a testament to the outstanding senior care at the ABQ BioPark. Big sister Matilda turned four years old this July and although mothering is believed to be largely instinctual, the growth of their family gives her an opportunity to experience social dynamics with another young hippo. In their native range, hippos live in groups ranging anywhere from 5 to 30 individuals called pods or floats that consist of many females and calves and one territorial bull. Hippopotamus amphibius, more commonly known as Nile hippopotamus, river hippopotamus, or common hippopotamus, are listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Read more about what this means for the growing family here: https://bit.ly/3W5gABe #ABQBioPark #Zoo #ZooBabies #hippo #WelcomeToTheWorld | ABQ BioPark
 
zoologicus said:
ABQ BioPark's Karen delivered a calf on October 14th, her fourth sired by Moe: 172K views · 4K reactions | **CONTENT WARNING: LIVE BIRTH** Hip-Hippo Hooray! The ABQ BioPark is thrilled to announce an exciting birth at the Zoo. Experienced parents, hippos Karen and Moe, welcomed their fourth calf together just after 9 am this morning, October 14. 24-year-old Karen has been under expert prenatal care since her pregnancy was confirmed earlier this year. She went into labor this morning and was monitored by her care team through her quick and successful birth, captured below (Note: there is some blood present in the video). Like the experienced mother she is, she immediately made sure the calf could get to shallow ground to catch its breath and began bonding. To allow them privacy, the hippo habitat is temporarily closed to guests. Hippo mothers are extremely protective of their young, so when the area reopens guests may see her keep both Moe and Matilda at a distance while she nurses and bonds with the new bundle of joy. Watch our socials for news of when the area will reopen to guests! Moe, the calf’s father, will turn 52 years old next month and is among the oldest male hippos in North America! As a senior hippo, his continued contribution to the conservation of his species and enduring legacy are a testament to the outstanding senior care at the ABQ BioPark. Big sister Matilda turned four years old this July and although mothering is believed to be largely instinctual, the growth of their family gives her an opportunity to experience social dynamics with another young hippo. In their native range, hippos live in groups ranging anywhere from 5 to 30 individuals called pods or floats that consist of many females and calves and one territorial bull. Hippopotamus amphibius, more commonly known as Nile hippopotamus, river hippopotamus, or common hippopotamus, are listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Read more about what this means for the growing family here: https://bit.ly/3W5gABe #ABQBioPark #Zoo #ZooBabies #hippo #WelcomeToTheWorld | ABQ BioPark
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Definitely didn't think Moe still had breeding in him, he is actually the oldest Nile Hippo in North America, and was shifted to a more "retirement mode" two years ago, even Matilda was a shock in 2021, but he proved us wrong again, as both were unplanned pregnancies! Either way, this is absolutely amazing news, I'm personally hoping for a female calf as this would give Albuquerque three cows (the recommended minimum bloat size) for about the next 15-30 years once Moe passes.
 
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