Cute Things Come In Small Packages – Like Pygmy Hippos

On those days when it’s grey and rainy outside, sometimes we just need a little pygmy hippo magic to turn that frown into a smile.

These miniature cuties are one of the iconic wildlife species in Sierra Leone, together with chimpanzees, the national animal. They are hard to spot in the wild — you can try your luck in Sierra Leone’s national parks and protected areas like Tiwai Island.

Meanwhile, here are some curious facts about pygmy hippos:

1. There are only 2,500 pygmy hippos left in the wild, compared to over 130,000 common hippos.
2. Even though pygmy hippos look like miniature versions of common hippos, they belong to a different genus. Their feet are less webbed and they have a rounder, shorter snout.
3. Just like common hippos, pygmy hippos spend a lot of time in water because otherwise their skin cracks and breaks.
4. Pygmy hippo babies weigh five kilos (11 pounds) at birth but by five months of age their weight has increased 10-fold.
5. Pygmy hippos are nocturnal animals and spend most of their lives alone, unlike common hippos who are very sociable and live in large groups.
6. Pygmy hippos swim very fast, but they are also very fast runners, reaching speeds of approximately 25 km/h (15 mph).