Move over Moo Deng, there鈥檚 a new pygmy in town.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's Edinburgh Zoo announced Monday that their own tiny pygmy hippo, named Haggis, was born Oct. 30 to parents Otto and Gloria.
The newborn calf is doing really well, according to Jonny Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo.
鈥淚t is amazing to see her personality beginning to shine already,鈥� Appleyard continued in a statement issued by the zoo.
Visitors already enamored by photos and video of the shiny, chubby creature will have to wait awhile before making a trek to see her in person.
鈥淭he first 30 days are critical for her development, so the pygmy hippo house will be closed for now to allow us to keep a close eye on mum and baby at this sensitive time,鈥� Appleyard said.
Pygmy hippos, native to forests and swamps in West Africa, are endangered animals, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. There are just an estimated 2,000 that remain in the world, mainly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast, due to habitat loss and being hunted for bushmeat,
Haggis鈥� birth comes as the world remains obsessed over the birth of Thailand鈥檚 Moo Deng, who is such a viral sensation visitors during limited days of the week.
鈥淲hile Thailand鈥檚 Moo Deng has become a viral global icon, it is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare,鈥� Appleyard said. 鈥淚t is great to have our own little ambassador right here in Edinburgh to connect with our visitors and help raise awareness of the challenges the species face in the wild.鈥�
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