Melbourne Zoo’s cutest new attraction – the three-week-old Pygmy Hippo named Obi – has taken his first swim with mum.
He might be young, but he’s not that little – keepers say he is a fast grower.
From his birth weight of around five kilos, Obi has put on roughly 500 grams a day and now weighs over 13 kilos.
Pics: Supplied Melbourne Zoo
“Mum Petre has been an excellent and attentive mother, helping him with his swimming and ensuring he never strays too far,” Melbourne Zoo staff wrote in a press release.
“He has been leaning to swim in the nursery yard pool and passed with flying colours.”
Pics: Supplied Melbourne Zoo
Wild Sea Manager, Justin Valentine said Obi “loves the water and spends hours in the small pool, so he is ready for the next step.”
Pics: Supplied Melbourne Zoo
The 3-week old calf has been named Obi by zoo keepers. The name means ‘heart’ in Igob, a Nigerian language.
Pics: Supplied Melbourne Zoo
Pygmy Hippos are classified as endangered in the wild, however, due to their dense rainforest habitat their exact population size is unknown.
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