Baby boy hippo welcomed at San Diego Zoo

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (FOX 13) - A river hippopotamus named Funani has given birth to a baby boy at the San Diego Zoo, the zoo announced this week. 

The calf is now three weeks old and loves being pushed around their 150,000-gallon pool by his mother.

The zoo says this baby boy is Funani’s 12th calf.

The not-yet-named male hippo calf was born Friday, September 22. Funani and her calf share the exhibit with the calf’s father, Otis.

Keepers say that Funani’s latest boy is especially adventurous and precocious at such a young age.

“It’s so great to have the opportunity to watch Funani raise another calf,” said Jennifer Chapman, senior keeper. “This boy is fearless, and we’re really excited to see him grow into his big personality.”

Keepers also say the calf never misses a meal and has been seen nursing several times a day. One cup of hippo milk provides approximately 550 calories, and keepers estimate the calf now weighs between 80 and 100 pounds.

The river hippopotamus is a threatened species, facing both natural predators and human-made dangers, such as poaching. 

For more information about Funani and her new addition, visit http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/.