Boston Zoo welcomes new baby pygmy hippopotamus as their newest addition
Birth and the beauty of new life is an unmatched wonder and blessing in this world.
While many expectant mothers peacefully experience pregnancy, many more yet must endure trials and hardship. The blessing that birth is becomes evermore evident to a mother who must first experience loss and tribulation. While hope is not always easy to generate, many strong-willed mothers persevere and keep their eyes set on the future.
Despite the intense difficulty of staying positive in the most troubling of times, a mother knows that the payoff for her patience and determination can be the most rewarding one she’ll ever feel.
This goes for woman and animal alike.
Meet Cleopatra. She goes by ‘Cleo’ for short. She’s a pygmy hippopotamus at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, Massachusetts.
Cleo has a story of her own. She’s experienced a troubling commencement into motherhood. Her tale is riddled with deep grief and loss. In such a way that she’s given birth to stillborn calves – twice at that. Both times, in 2018 and 2019, it was due to complications from prolonged labor.
Not only did the two separate events devastate Cleo, but it also caused deep sorrow for her caretakers at the zoo.
The veterinary staff, determined to initiate a beautiful outcome, remained committed to Cleo despite the grim circumstances. Surrounded by people who truly loved her, the members of the zoo refused to give up. They even participated in the Pygmy Hippo Species Survival Plan – an inter-zoo plan designed to support endangered or threatened species.
The Species Survival Plan helped make personal recommendations for Cleo. With the plan’s guidance, Cleo was able to get pregnant with her mate Inocencio.
Among other recommendations, the plan sought for the zoo to induce Cleo’s pregnancy so they could be there to assist her in it. With the entire team committed, this time they were ready to ensure a smooth transition into motherhood.
“On Saturday, October 3, Cleo received her first hormone injection to prepare her for labor, a second injection 24 hours later, and her care team monitored her and the baby around the clock through the weekend with ultrasounds every few hours. By late afternoon on Monday, October 5, she began showing signs of labor but no contractions. After oxytocin injections were not effective to induce contractions, the veterinary team manually delivered the calf.”
And then, on October 5, 2020 – the zoo was able to witness the fruit of their efforts and Cleo’s willingness.
The real prize? A beautiful baby boy. A brand new 13-pound calf.
The baby boy was immediately welcomed with arms wide open. A true achievement, he was the first pygmy hippo birthed at the New England zoo.
“The birth was a joyous moment marking the culmination of years of work, careful planning, and dedication by the animal care and veterinary teams.”
Not only that, but the bouncing baby boy was healthy.
Per the Zoo New England Vice President of Animal Health and Conservation, Dr. Eric Baitchman:
“The calf was immediately so bright, strong and aware, and was holding his head up right away. The calf was introduced to Cleo soon after birth and was nursing within a few hours.”
If this story doesn’t warm your cool-weather heart, we don’t know what could!
On November 6, the zoo happily gave an update about the new baby. In fact, he was so healthy that he had easily passed the 20-pound mark. In every effort to protect and maintain mother and baby’s health, the zoo is making sure they spend much of their time bonding together.
Check out this amazingly heartwarming tale for yourself in the video below!
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Sources: YouTube/Zoo New England, Instagram/Zoo New England, Zoo New England