Endangered Pygmy Hippos Ronda and Asali Featured at Montgomery Zoo

Visitors to the Montgomery Zoo can now catch a glimpse of the zoo’s newest pygmy hippopotamus calf.

Ronda, a five-month-old female, was recently relocated to the Pygmy Hippo Nursing Suite in the zoo's South American Realm, accompanied by her mother, Asali.

The pygmy hippo is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. According to the World Conservation Union, fewer than 3,000 pygmy hippos remain in the wild.

Native to the forests and swamps of western Africa, the pygmy hippopotamus is a smaller relative of the common hippopotamus. As stated in a news release from the Montgomery Zoo, the pygmy hippo is semi-aquatic and depends on being near water to keep its skin moisturized and body temperature regulated. These animals are reclusive, nocturnal, and challenging to study in their natural habitat, but they have a successful breeding history in captivity.

Pygmy hippos grow to about half the height and one-quarter of the weight of their larger cousins. They typically reach 30-32 inches in height, 59-70 inches in length, and weigh between 400-600 pounds.