For the first time in 26 years, the Los Angeles Zoo welcomed the birth of a healthy baby hippopotamus as a surprise Halloween treat.
The zoo’s female hippopotamus, Mara, went into labor around 1 p.m.on Friday, the LA Zoo said in a news release on Monday.
Mara was in the comfort of her outdoor pool, with zoo staff and veterinarians nearby every step of the way.
Two and a half hours later, some zoo guests had the rare opportunity of witnessing the live birth.
Mara, a 10-year-old hippo, was brought to LA in December 2013 as the companion for the zoo’s male hippo, Adhama, 3. The two were said to have had an instant connection, according to the release.
Breeding at the zoo is under the strict oversight of The Species Survival Program (SSP), and Mara was on birth control, zoo officials said.
While symptoms such as weight gain led animal care staff to believe that Mara was pregnant, there was no sure way to confirm their suspicions. Mara’s birth came as a happy Halloween surprise.
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Hippos’ pregnancies generally last eight months, and it is common for calves in the wild to stay in water for up to two weeks after being born.
However, in this case Mara chose to leave the water and bring her baby onto dry land.
The zoo hopes to determine the sex of the calf once they are able to separate baby and mother.
For now, mother, father, and baby are enjoying their bonding time, zoo officials said.
