Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Hippo calf born in city zoo

— Photo: S. Mahinsha

FIRST IMPRESSION: The newborn hippo calf nuzzles up to its mother at the city zoo on Monday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 20-year-old hippo at the city zoo gave birth early on Monday. With this, the zoo’s hippo population has risen to eight.

According to zoo officials, the hippo gave birth at 4.30 a.m. This is the fifth calf born to the only breeding hippo at the zoo, Rukmini.

As per zoo records, Rukmini — who was born in the zoo itself — is aged only 12, but according to zoo officials there appears to be a mistake in that record.

“The mother and calf are doing fine. Rukmini’s four offsprings are at the zoo. One calf died after it was trapped in the water outlet of the hippo enclosure,” zoo vet C. S. Jayakumar said. The zoo now has three male and four female hippos.

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