Guests who happened to stop by the Hippopotamus exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo on Halloween Day were in for a real "treat." Mara, the zoo's female Hippo gave birth at 3:30 Friday afternoon. This is the first hippo calf the Zoo has had in 26 years.

 

Mother Mara is 10 years old. She arrived at the LA Zoo from a zoo in Topeka, Kansas in December 2013. She became the companion to Adhama, the zoo's three year old male. Adhama had arrived from the San Diego Zoo in June of 2013. When the two hippo's were introduced, an immediate bond was formed, much to the delight of zoo officials.

 

The breeding of zoo animals is closely monitored by the Species Survival Program (SSP), and the Los Angeles Zoo, as an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums was somewhat surprised at the birth, though it was not unexpected. You see, Mara was on birth control.

 

Animal care technicians had noticed Mara was gaining weight, but testing options were limited. Veterinary staff went back to the breeding notes and "guesstimated" the birth was probable in mid-November, based on a gestation period of eight months for hippo pregnancies.

 

Zoo officials say the birth of Mara's baby began in the comfort of the enclosure's outdoor pool at 1 p.m. on Friday. It is normal for hippo babies in the wild to be born in the water. They may stay in the water, protected by the mother for up to two weeks. However, Mara instead chose to leave the water and have her baby on dry land.

 

Attendants and veterinarians were close-by to monitor the birth and the safety of Mara and her calf. After two-and-a-half hours, the baby was born, and appeared to be doing well. Zoo officials left mother and baby to bond over the weekend. Staff has not tried to get close enough to determine the sex of the calf, but a check-up for the new baby is due soon, and then everyone will know whether it's a boy or a girl.

 

PHOTO: Mara and her offspring.

CREDIT: Tad Motoyama/LA Zoo.