It’s a Boy! John Ball Zoo Reveals Gender of Baby Pygmy Hippo

Today there was an adorable party that brought a packed crowd to the John Ball Zoo. On Thursday, September 11, the Zoo held a very special gender reveal for its newest (and tiniest) resident: the baby pygmy hippo born just last week.

Crowds gathered to see the big moment, which involved a giant watermelon filled with blue Jell-O. But it wasn’t mom Penelope or the little calf who made the announcement. It was dad, Jahari, who pushed the watermelon (which fell out of view inside the exhibit). He kept everyone guessing for a nail-biting minute before revealing that the Zoo’s new addition... is a boy!

The creative reveal was the brainchild of JBZ’s nutrition team. Shakria, one of the Zoo’s dietitians, said the inspiration came after seeing other hippo and human gender reveals. “We thought we’d take it to the next level by doing a gender reveal for our new addition,” she explained.

This birth marks an important milestone for the endangered species, with fewer than 2,500 pygmy hippos estimated in the wild. The little calf is already thriving and keepers shared he weighed 11 pounds at birth and has already grown to 14 pounds in just a week.

For now, mom and baby are bonding behind the scenes, and it will be some time before visitors can meet him in person. The Zoo hasn’t revealed a name yet either, but fans can still catch glimpses thanks to a camera feed installed in the habitat.

The Zoo says this calf is a critical step in conservation efforts nationwide. However, for West Michigan families, he’s also just the cutest new neighbor in town.

Keep an eye on John Ball Zoo’s social media for updates on when you’ll get your first peek.