Tampa Welcomes Its Own Baby Pygmy Hippo – A New Star in Town

Have you heard of Moo Deng? The world’s most famous pygmy hippo is taking social media by storm, with millions captivated by her playful antics at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo. And yes, she’s undeniably adorable.

But you don’t need to hop on a plane to Bangkok to witness the slimy cuteness of a pygmy hippo calf. Tampa Bay has its very own star! Meet Ruka, born earlier this year at ZooTampa at Lowry Park. The zoo reports that she loves nothing more than playing with her ball.

In April, ZooTampa shared the first video of Ruka, when she weighed about 10 lbs, just after her birth as part of the Species Survival Plan, a vital program aimed at protecting threatened and endangered species.

Come see Ruka in person by grabbing your tickets today!

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