Hippo Born at Taman Safari

Jakarta Globe, Ismira Lutfia, March 24, 2010

Hippo Sarah is very protective of her baby, says their caretaker. (Antara Photo)

Dea, a 20-kilogram female hippopotamus calf, is the newest member of a herd living in captivity at the Taman Safari Indonesia in Bogor, West Java.

According to the conservation park’s spokesman, Yulius Suprihardo, the calf was born on Feb. 26 and was named by a local military commander, Joko Sutomo. She was introduced to the public at the park on Sunday.

“We could not introduce her sooner to because the calf's mother is very protective, making it difficult for us to take pictures of the newborn,” Yulius told the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday, adding that Dea was the fifth calf of the species born under the park’s breeding program.

According to the herd’s keeper, Sabaryanto, the calf’s 11-year-old mother, Sarah, gave birth to Dea about nine months after mating with a 16-year-old bull named Jana. Dea has become the 11th hippo under his care.

Sabaryanto, who has been the herd’s keeper for 10 years, said he kept track of Sarah’s gestation period since the mating occurred because he could not really tell if the 2,500-kilogram cow was really pregnant due to her bulky and plump body.

A week before Sarah gave birth, Sabaryanto said, “I noticed there were changes in her body and her water was also starting to break.”

“Hippos are not normally difficult to breed, but it would not be so easy when a female hippo is introduced to a new herd where she needs to take time to adapt,” he said.

Park director Jansen Manansang, said he was happy the new calf had been born in the park.

“This proves that our conservation program is running well,” he said.

The herbivorous hippos are found mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and are listed as a vulnerable species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Their habitat is disappearing and they are illegally hunted for their meet and ivory teeth.