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By Janel Heflin, Special to The News
TAMPA — A rare baby Pygmy Hippopotamus born at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo on Aug. 26 needs a name, and zoo leaders are asking for help from zoo fans and the public. An online contest that began on Sept. 8, and runs through Oct. 3 will name the first ever, captive born Pygmy Hippo in the zoo’s history.
Whether it be Annakiya, Cece, Nini, Tifi, or Zaji, the newborn calf will be officially named on World Animal Day at the zoo Oct. 4.
Log on to the Web, and cast your votes for Lowry Park Zoo’s newest bundle of joy.
On Tuesday, Aug. 26, Zsa Zsa, a full-grown female Pygmy Hippo, gave birth to a calf, the first ever, captive born Pygmy Hippo in the history of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, and one of only three births in North America in the last two years.
In the spirit of the election year, and in celebration of the birth, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo started an online voting contest on Sept. 8.
There are five names to choose from.
As Pygmy Hippos are native to the forests and swamps of western Africa, the five names chosen for the voting process reflect their native land.
While awaiting a name, the female calf continues to thrive, and is filling out as she continues to nurse from her mother Zsa Zsa.
“The calf appears to be well bonded with mother,” said Dr. Larry Killmar, Director of Collections for Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. “The first time mother is doing a great job caring for the baby, and exceeding our expectations. This offspring is a great step forward in our efforts to contribute to a sustainable population of these threatened animals in North America.”
The Pygmy Hippo, a species considered threatened and endangered in its homeland, western Africa, is quickly disappearing from the wild, with only about 3,000 remaining.
Only 35 are reported to reside in Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited institutions in North America, according to Rachel Nelson, Director of Public Relations for Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.
With so few in existence, the birth of the baby Pygmy Hippo is not merely a celebration of new life, it is a celebration of the continuing existence of a creature that may, one day, only be seen in captivity as loss of habitat quickly causes the demise of those in the wild.
To cast your vote log onto http://www.LowryParkZoo.com.
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I would love to find a map of where to "find" all the mythical animals in the world. Anyone seen ...
Aw. These Animals are absolutely adorable. && Fer one to reach that age is (: AH-MAY-ZING 
oh, this is sad. :( but it's amazing for it to reach that age! 
Its not simply a case of In Defense of Animals vs. The Saint Louis Zoo.
Even if you throw out comments ...
This is not a picture of a large-billed reed warbler. Good story, just the wrong pic. 
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