The pygmy hippopotamus born in mid-August in Wrocław Zoo, southwest Poland, was christened this Sunday with the name Euforio, selected out of some 400 entries submitted in a nation-wide competition.
The pygmy hippo is the first male of the species born in years in captivity. The christening ceremony, complete with cakes for hippo, his mother and the human representatives at the celebration, was organised to coincide with World Animal Day on October 4.
The hippo needed a push from his keeper to join the party and when finally in the pen, kept close to his mother, Elpunia.
Pygmy hippos are a species threatened with extinction, living in the swamps and rain forests of West Africa.
The population of the hippos in the wild barely numbers some 3 thousand. Zoological gardens worldwide are making efforts to breed the hippos but as more females are usually born, males of the species are very much desired.
There are already 14 zoos in Europe in dire need of a male, which means that Euforio is already something of an international celebrity. (ek)