3 August 2009

Nine-month-old Pygmy Hippo ‘Monifa' has arrived at Melbourne Zoo from her birthplace at Taronga Zoo.

Melbourne Zoo Director Kevin Tanner says ‘Monifa's birth is a significant contribution to the regional breeding program for Pygmy Hippopotamus, a species with as few as 3,000 individuals surviving in the wild.

‘We are especially delighted to welcome Monifa, as she is the first offspring of Timmy, a long-time favourite of our visitors and staff.'

Monifa's survival was in the balance at first, so keepers had to step in and hand-raise her, which included providing bottles round the clock.

The calf's very shaky start in life is reflected in her name: Monifa means ‘I am lucky' in a Nigerian language.

From being a tiny and frail 3.8kg when she was born last October, Monifa is now a healthy 65kg, thanks to such dedicated care

She no longer needs to be bottle-fed, enjoying a variety of solids, such as endive, lettuce, carrot, apple, lucerne hay, and other fruit, vegetables, and grains.

Monifa's father ‘Timmy' was born at the Honolulu Zoo, was transferred to Taronga Zoo, and then lived at Melbourne Zoo for many years before returning to Taronga Zoo to be introduced to a mate as part of the regional breeding program.

Monifa's mother Petre was born at Adelaide Zoo and was transferred to Taronga Zoo so the new breeding pair could be introduced there. Petre is aged 24 and Timmy is 28.

Monifa will reach maturity when she is four or five years old, and by then she will weigh about 200kg.

Pygmy Hippos are an African rainforest species, classified as being ‘vulnerable', which is just one step from an endangered classification.

Monifa is living in the exhibit previously used by her father, in the African Rainforest area, near the gorillas and the mandrills.

However, she will not be on view all day as yet. She is still so young that she needs some naptime during the day!