Haggis, a pygmy hippopotamus born at Edinburgh Zoo in October 2024, is now part of an international breeding program at Wingham Wildlife Park dedicated to protecting this endangered species. This marks a significant milestone in global conservation efforts, the BBC reported.
Pygmy hippos, native to West Africa’s forests, are declining due to mining and logging. The Zoological Society of London estimates that only 2,000 to 2,500 remain in the wild.
Haggis was born at the Edinburgh Zoo to Otto and Gloria and now plays a key role in securing her species’ future. Wingham Wildlife Park is currently the only zoo in Kent to house a pygmy hippopotamus.
It is worth noting that Haggis is well known in the U.K., having been featured on NBC’s «Saturday Night Live» and BBC Radio 1, which has brought global attention to this rare species.
