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Rhiannon12866

(202,969 posts)
Tue Apr 3, 2012, 12:26 AM Apr 2012

Highway to the cuddle zone: Harry the baby pygmy hippo



Meet Harry the hippo, a baby pygmy so small the average person could carry him around with ease.

Harry, named after Britain's Prince Harry, was born last week at the Cango Wildlife Ranch in South Africa, the Star reports. His handlers are being forced to hand-rear Harry after his mother Hilda refused to feed him. Keeping Harry healthy is a priority, as there are only an estimated 3,000 pygmy hippos left in the wild.

"Pygmy hippo mothers are either great moms or silly moms. She unfortunately has lost a few of her babies after she squashed them," Rob Hall, operations director at the ranch, told the Star.

Harry's handlers are certainly earning their pay, feeding him a mixture of milk and water every three hours, then bathing him after each feeding. "You need to keep his skin moist," Hall said.


http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/harry-baby-pgymy-hippo-wows-adorable-pics-205210883.html

How cute is this little guy? LOL. More pix at link.
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Highway to the cuddle zone: Harry the baby pygmy hippo (Original Post) Rhiannon12866 Apr 2012 OP
K&R, great! Tripod Apr 2012 #1
Harry's Very cute! Here's another cute pygmy hippo baby taking her first swim- marzipanni Apr 2012 #2
AGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! The CUTENESSSSSS!!!!!!! BlancheSplanchnik Apr 2012 #5
You are so right! Love this! Rhiannon12866 Apr 2012 #9
keep LynneSin away from Harry Angry Dragon Apr 2012 #3
I realize these are rare wild animals but Kali Apr 2012 #4
I imagine that they're just trying for a few more, since they're so rare. Rhiannon12866 Apr 2012 #8
Oh. My. Goodness! OnyxCollie Apr 2012 #6
Those pictures and a lot more can be found at Zooborns starroute Apr 2012 #7
Uh-oh. That site is dangerously addictive. geardaddy Apr 2012 #11
He playing 'Got Your Nose"! benld74 Apr 2012 #10
So he is, LOL! I'll have to find a pic where it's the other way around... Rhiannon12866 Apr 2012 #12

BlancheSplanchnik

(20,219 posts)
5. AGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! The CUTENESSSSSS!!!!!!!
Tue Apr 3, 2012, 11:10 AM
Apr 2012

That nose! That tum-tum! That widdle round butt! Those feetsies!

I'm SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEING to pieces!

Kali

(54,990 posts)
4. I realize these are rare wild animals but
Tue Apr 3, 2012, 10:17 AM
Apr 2012

as someone who makes a living from animals I just have to say - if I have a cow that is a "silly" mother and won't raise a calf on her own, she goes down the road. Not only is she an economic problem, but who wants to keep a trait like shitty mothering in a herd?

My question would be something to the effect of are they planning to keep that animal in a breeding herd?


oh, obligatory SQEEEEE!!! (I'm not heartless!)

Rhiannon12866

(202,969 posts)
8. I imagine that they're just trying for a few more, since they're so rare.
Tue Apr 3, 2012, 03:02 PM
Apr 2012

They probably aren't too fussy how they get them and it sure looks like he's getting great care. Hell, I'd volunteer to give him baths, wouldn't have to spend ages drying him like I do my dog - and he'd actually enjoy it!

starroute

(12,977 posts)
7. Those pictures and a lot more can be found at Zooborns
Tue Apr 3, 2012, 12:20 PM
Apr 2012
http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/

The photos are formatted in a way that seems to prevent hot-linking, but check out the baby aardvark at http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2012/03/second-baby-aardvark-for-busch-gardens.html and the burrowing owlets at http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2012/03/burrowing-owlets-roost-in-teacups.html

There are more pictures of Harry the hippo at http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2012/03/south-africa-welcomes-prince-harry-a-brand-new-pygmy-hippo.html

And if you keep going back to older stories, the cuteness never lets up.

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