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arjaydee

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Just retired and travelling as much as possible. Have visited the Bioparc in Valencia and was awe struck by several of the animal groups but most spectacularly the Hippo and it's offspring trying to feed from the mother underwater. Was amazed at the size of them. How can you find if the baby was born in Valencia ? Would a mother and child ever be captured in the wild ?
This zoo was so different than any I had seen previously that it has made me think that zoos might guide where I travel to. Already planning a trip up west coast of USA so San Diego hopefully in spring
 
Welcome arjaydee. The baby was born in Valencia towards the end of July, and has yet to be named.
This article mentions it briefly near the bottom:
Bioparc ? wild nature in Valencia - new - Official Tourism Site of the Region of Valencia

And these two spanish articles from the zoo's website are about the hippo's birth and naming:
Nace la primera cría de hipopótamo del Nilo en Bioparc Valencia | Bioparc Valencia | Naturaleza en abierto
¿Qué nombre le pondrías a la nueva cría de hipopótamo del Nilo de Bioparc Valencia? | Bioparc Valencia | Naturaleza en abierto

Both of the hippo's parents were from other zoos. ISIS (a zoo inventory system accessible online) lists about 500 hippos in zoos around the world, and there are many zoos which hold hippos not listed on ISIS. With such a large captive population, it is unlikely that any hippos would be captured from the wild, though a few orphaned, rescued or injured hippos may be kept in rescue centres in their home range, and may well be kept in zoos when older. The stress, complications of transporting the animals, and cost of a wild capture are just some of the reasons that hippos (especially youngsters) would probably come from other zoos instead. Indeed, there are many zoos with more hippos than they can hold which are looking for new homes for them.
 
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