Bogor, W Java (ANTARA News) - The Taman Safari Indonesia (TSI) in Cisarua, West Java Province, welcomed a baby pygmy hippopotamus (chaeropsis liberiensis) that was recently born in the ex situ conservation site.

"The baby pygmy hippopotamus was born several days ago. We have released him just now," Director of TSI Frans Manansang noted here on Monday.

The pygmy hippopotamus is a protected and endangered animal species.

The population of the pygmy hippopotamus in its habitat is declining, with only some two thousand of them existing in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea as well as Cote de Ivore.

The baby pygmy hippopotamus was born from a female parent Vivi and male parent Ujani.

"The baby hippopotamus can dive on the first day after birth. He sometimes suckles his mother," the keeper Ardi remarked.

The TSI-Cisarua has been an ex situ conservation site after the government declared the area in 1990.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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