30 August 2011
Zoo deeply saddened by hippo loss

Werribee Open Range Zoo is very sad to announce that a new born hippo calf was found dead this morning. It is expected to have died during the birthing process overnight.

Zoo staff had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Hippo Brindabella's calf and had done everything possible to ensure the calf had the best chance of survival.

However, hippo births are always fraught with risk as they give birth in water or in wallows and more than half of all babies born do not survive.

A post mortem will be carried out to determine the exact cause of death.