For the first time, a hippopotamus was born at the National Zoo in Rabat

A baby hippo was recently born at the National Zoo in Rabat, after a pregnancy that lasted 8 months, said the establishment in a statement. According to the same source, this process is part of the conservation strategy that aims to protect endangered species.

This first birth is the result of the adaptation of the hippopotamus species to their environment, following the actions of the zoo for the conservation of ex-situ species. The mother, who is 16 years old, has been a resident of the zoo since it was founded in 2007. The birth was in the most natural conditions, according to the statement.

The baby hippopotamus receives special attention from the zoo’s veterinary and care team, regarding vaccination and post-natal care. Belonging to the Hippopotamidae family, the six hippos of the zoo, including five adults, are part of the common species of amphibian hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius), native to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), this species is considered vulnerable and it is enlisted by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).