Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium announced the new addition of a pygmy hippo calf born on Oct. 1.
Here are some facts we learned from Christie Eddie, the curator of small mammals, while visiting the zoo Tuesday: (Watch an extended interview with her in the player above)
1. Newborn pygmy hippos have to learn how to swim after they are born. Mabel had swimming lessons in the holding area of the zoo before going out in the display in the Lied Jungle.
2. Mabel's mom, Chomel, is trained to let her keepers give her an ultrasound. She knows to stand still during the procedure, so keepers can monitor her pregnancy.
3. Female pygmy hippos typically grow to about 350 pounds. At one year old, Mabel is expected to be about halfway there.
4. Pygmy hippos are about one-fifth to one-eighth the size of a river hippo.
5. A male pygmy hippo born at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo in 2013 now lives at a zoo in Jackson, Mississippi.
6. Eddie works with a European counterpart to help grow the captive pygmy hippo population. The program hopes to learn more about why male calves have a higher birth mortality rate.
7. The keepers at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo chose the name Mabel for the pygmy hippo calf.
8. Mabel will stay at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo for at least a year, but may be moved to another zoo based on the overall population.
9. There are 27 pygmy hippos, including Mabel, at zoos in the United States.
10. The male pygmy hippo, Scooby, is separated from the mother and calf who are in the exhibit during the day. He stays in the exhibit at night.
