Baby hippo explores new habitat at San Diego Zoo
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Zoo has been having a bit of a baby boom within the last few weeks.
One of the new babies at the zoo is 8-week-old hippopotamus Devi. The female calf has been venturing into deeper waters in her 150,000-gallon pool at the park. But she doesn't explore those waters on her own, her mother Funani is always close by.
Little Devi was born on March 23. For the first six weeks of her life, Funani kept Devi tucked in vegetation near the shore as a way to protect her.
On Thursday, the curious calf could be seen popping up near the glass wall and saying hello to visitors. Hippos have a membrane that protects their eyes so that they can see clearly underwater.
Video footage captured by zoo staff showed Devi zooming around in the water and getting closer to the glass when visitors were near.
Devi shares the exhibit with her mother and father, Otis. The hippo family can be seen on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at the zoo.
The hippopotamus is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the species can be found many different countries in Africa. Hippos are threatened by habitat loss, and illegal and unregulated hunting for their meat and ivory teeth.
