The pygmy hippopotamus resembles the river hippo but is smaller, with shorter legs and a smaller head. Inhabiting tropical forests and wetlands in Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, they're threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation due to deforestation for development like roads, mines, and farms. This diminishes foraging areas and increases exposure to hunters, impacting their survival.
The Toronto Zoo participates in and contributes to the management and support of pygmy hippos through research, husbandry, management, and education. Working with other accredited facilities, the Toronto Zoo helps maintain the genetic health and population numbers of pygmy hippos in captivity and in the wild.
By adopting a Toronto Zoo animal, your support will help to safeguard the future of species, like the pygmy hippo, for future generations. Help us to preserve and protect our planet, and the incredible wildlife that call it home.