my reason for posting this is two-fold. #1) i'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to have her (it's a dream. i know it would never be right to actually OWN a pygmy hippo) and #2) to bring the rarity of pygmy hippos to everyone's attention. there numbers are dwindling. they are being poached (and goddess knows what).

but still, monifa is kick-ass cute

Zoo celebrates birth of rare pygmy hippo

A zoo in Sydney is celebrating the birth of a rare pygmy hippopotamus.

Monifa, whose name means "I am lucky" in Nigeria, was born three weeks ago after a difficult breach birth.

Unable to stand or feed herself, the piglet-sized hippo had to be nursed round the clock by staff at Taronga Zoo in the Australian city.

Keepers Renae Zammit and Tracy Roberts spent a fortnight sleeping with and hand-feeding Monifa from a teated syringe until she was nursed to full health.

The infant has now moved into her own pen and is ready to follow the footsteps of her father Timmy, the last pygmy hippo born at Taronga Zoo 23 years ago.

Monifa has now doubled in weight and is drinking from a bowl, content to suckle the thumb of her keepers. A delighted Misss Zammit said Monifa was already showing signs of playfulness.