If you are the kind of person who can wait for hours just to catch a glimpse of a wild animal, then the Vandalur zoo is right up your alley. Chances are you can get to see the newborn hippopotamus, which was released into the exhibit area at the zoo on Wednesday.
The zoo’s female hippo Pragathi delivered the hippo on October 20 last year. The calf preferred to stay in the water with the mother, and was reticent to emerge, said K.S.S.V.P. Reddy, additional principal chief conservator of forests and zoo director.
Initially, Wamboori, the male hippo, was kept in the same enclosure with Pragathi, but was shifted out just before delivery as the chances of the father accidentally trampling the newborn were high, Mr. Reddy added.
The calf weighed 30 kg at birth, and has grown to about 70 kg now. Before releasing it into the exhibit area, authorities cleaned the hippo enclosure. Further, the zoo veterinarian had conducted an inspection to ensure hygienic conditions inside the enclosure, officials said.
Hippos can swim at a speed of eight kilometres per hour and can run at a maximum speed of 30 kmph on land. Adult hippos spend most of the daytime in water and feed after dark, Mr. Reddy added.
