Hugo (Pygmy Hippopotamus)
 Hugo in 2025 | |
| 🐈 🐕 🐎 Species | Pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) |
|---|---|
| 🚻 Sex | Male |
| 📆 🐤 Born | 3 September 2025 |
| 🏡 Residence | John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America |
| Parent(s) |
|
Hugo (born September 3rd, 2025) is a pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) currently residing at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. He gained attention online due to the social media campaign surrounding his birth and the "baby pygmy hippo cam" hosted by John Ball Zoo following his birth, documenting Hugo and his Mother Penelope in the first months of his life, his sassy attitude towards his mother, and his adventurous nature.
Background
Hugo was born to pygmy hippos Jahari and Penelope on September 3rd, 2025 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the first calf of the pair, who were matched for breeding via the Species Survival Plan and arrived at the zoo in 2023. The name Hugo was decided via public poll online, with users deciding between Blitz, Sapo, and Hugo.[1]. His nickname on the John Ball Zoo social media is the "playful spud".
Online Popularity
On July 3rd, 2025, John Ball Zoo revealed in an Instagram Post that their female pygmy hippo, Penelope, was expecting a calf.[2] The Zoo first teased this announcement in an Instagram post showing an ultrasound on June 30th, 2025
Hugo's birth was announced to the public by an Instagram post on September 4th, with a behind-the-scenes video of his birth the night before[3]. On September 11th, the zoo hosted a gender reveal party, where father Jahari ate a watermelon filled with blue jello and blueberries[4]. This event was held in-person and streamed via the JBZ "Baby Hippo Cam", which the Zoo has been operating since shortly after Hugo's birth.
Hugo and Penelope spent his first two months behind the scenes together before being introduced to the public exhibit in the David and Carol Van Andel Family Foundation Pygmy Hippo Pavilion (built in 2023)[5]. They were first brought to the exhibit on November 1st, 2025, with a small gathering for Zoo members, and opening to the public on November 3rd[6]
Since his birth, Hugo has been the star of the zoo and its social media. His birth announcement is the most liked and commented on Instagram post that the zoo posted in 2025. The zoo has begun selling more pygmy hippo merchandise, including pins, buttons, wood ornaments, and more.
Hugo's personality has been described to be similar to that of Moo Deng, who gained popularity online in 2024 for her playful and energetic demeanor. Hugo has attracted attention at the same time as Mars, a pygmy hippo from the Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Users online comment on Mars' generally aloof demeanor, with viral videos of the hippo refusing to get up, and being carried by his keeper. Hugo will remain at John Ball Zoo while he matures, at which time he will be sent to another zoo in the United States, and matched with an eligible partner by the SSP.
Other Notable Pygmy Hippos
- Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo from Thailand
- Haggis, a pygmy hippo born in Scotland in 2024, comedic rival of Moo Deng.
- Mars, a pygmy hippo born in June, 2025. Residing at the Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goodard, Kansas.
This article "Hugo (Pygmy Hippopotamus)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Hugo (Pygmy Hippopotamus). Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ Dupuis, Mary (26 September 2025). "John Ball Zoo announces naming contest for pygmy hippo baby". WZZM13.com.
- ↑ Dupuis, Mary (3 July 2025). "John Ball Zoo announces pygmy hippo Penelope is expecting her very first calf". WZZM13.com. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
- ↑ Jaworowski, Matt (4 September 2025). "Pygmy hippo calf born at John Ball Zoo". WOODTV.com. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
- ↑ Mack, Riley; DuPuis, Mary (11 September 2025). "IT'S A BOY | John Ball Zoo holds gender reveal party for new pygmy hippo calf". WZZM13.com.
- ↑ "Mom Knows Best: The Care And Keeping Of Hugo, Our Pygmy Hippo Calf | John Ball Zoo". jbzoo.org. 16 October 2025.
- ↑ DuPuis, Mary (1 November 2025). "John Ball Zoo's pygmy hippo calf Hugo is finally available for public viewing". WZZM13.com.
