The Dallas Zoo announced the arrival of an adorable baby Hippo born in late October, just a day before Halloween -- what a treat!
Boipelo gave birth to a healthy hippo calf on Sunday, Oct. 30 around 5:30 p.m.
The animal team closely monitored Boipelo for several weeks as her birth window neared. Signs of labor started mid-afternoon that Sunday and the team used cameras in the barn to keep tabs on Boipelo's progress while allowing her to deliver the calf privately. The zoo says her labor progressed quickly and smoothly.
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The little one was observed nursing within an hour of birth, and mom and baby spent the rest of that first night lying close together in their pool behind the scenes.
The baby is unnamed for now, as the zoo’s staff usually waits to get to know an animal’s personality before picking a name. Zoologists estimate the baby was 50 to 60 lbs. at birth.
He or she will debut in the hippopotamus habitat in a few weeks.
