Rare pygmy hippo calf makes a splash on her first public outing

A pygmy hippo calf has been born at Taronga Zoo, giving her species a leg-up in its struggle to avoid extinction.

The calf is the first born at the zoo in nearly seven years since the birth of her mother, Kambiri, in 2010.

She was shown to the public on Friday.

Weighing about five kilograms at birth on February 21, the calf, as yet unnamed, is growing at a healthy pace and has begun eating solid foods.

Me-time with mom.Credit: Paul Fahy/Taronga Zoo

"Kambiri is proving to be an absolute natural as a mother," keeper Renae Moss said.

"She's very attentive and a great teacher, guiding the calf as she learns to swim and showing her what foods to eat.

"It's also important for the calf to learn these natural mothering behaviours, as we hope she'll grow up to be an excellent mum herself.

"Pygmy hippos naturally spend a lot of time in the water, so the calf is already having a great time learning to swim next to mum and even practising holding her breath under water.

Taronga Zoo's pygmy hippo calf, seen with her mother, Kambiri, is doing swimmingly. Credit: Peter Rae

"We've started by filling the pond to about 40 centimetres deep, but we'll gradually increase the depth of the water as the little one grows in confidence.

"The calf is absolutely thriving. She's putting on weight every day and she's already got little rolls of fat around her neck," Ms Moss said.

Taronga Zoo's pygmy hippo calf steps out with her mother, Kambiri. Credit: Peter Rae

Fergus, the calf's father, was born at Shambala Animal Kingdom, a zoo in Cairns.

He arrived at Taronga in 2013 as part of the regional breeding program for his species.

Thriving: The calf has already got little rolls of fat around her neck.Credit: Paul Fahy/Taronga Zoo

He lives in an adjacent exhibit to Kambiri and the calf. Pygmy hippos are solitary animals and males play no role in raising a calf.

The hippo is a vital addition to Australia's insurance population of pygmy hippos.

Pygmy hippos live in the forests and swamps of west Africa. There are thought to be as few as 2000 to 3000 remaining in just four countries.

Most are thought to be in Liberia, with smaller numbers in Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast.

They are endangered due to loss of habitat, as their forest homes have been logged and converted to farmland at an alarming rate.

They are also vulnerable to poaching, hunting and civil unrest.

They are quite elusive and difficult to observe and study in the wild.

"With as few as 2000-3000 pygmy hippos remaining in the wild, every little calf is important," Ms Moss said.

Only half as tall as the common hippopotamus, pygmy hippos can reach 75-100 centimetres in height and weigh between 160 and 275 kilograms.

Visitors can catch glimpses of the calf on Taronga's Rainforest Trail as she starts to explore outdoors and perfects her swimming.

Taronga will soon announce a competition to help choose a name for the calf.