[Commentary] On June 26, at the Northern Forest Zoo in Heilongjiang, the baby hippo just now full moon met with tourists under the company of his mother. This is the first time the hippo has been successfully bred in high latitudes in China, and it is also the first time that the park has successfully bred a hippo since its establishment in 1954 66 years ago.
[Commentary] The reporter saw at the Hippo Pavilion that the little hippo likes to stick to his mother, even eating breast milk in the water. The staff told reporters that the park introduced female hippo "dudu" from Chengdu and male hippo "Qingzai" from Guangzhou. Both hippos are only 6 years old this year, and today's full moon baby hippo is their first baby.
[Same period] Liu Xiaomi, Senior Engineer of Animal Feeding, Northern Forest Zoo
After the hippo was born, the hippo mother and the baby hippo were alone, and they were separated from their father in two places. In fact, they can see each other, but they should not be together, because the hippo mother is very protective of the cubs, and takes care of the baby hippo very much. After it blew its teeth, he was afraid that the hippo dad would startle the little hippo. In fact, the hippo was very grumpy.
[Explanation] The staff told reporters that in high latitudes and high cold areas, successful breeding of hippos requires solving many technical problems, not to mention successful breeding. Because the winter in Harbin is cold, if the hippo spends the winter in the indoor pavilion, it is necessary to keep the pool clean and the water temperature suitable.
[Same period] Northern Forest Zoo hippo breeder Luan Jing
Our hippo must have a certain water temperature, too cold, let alone the big hippo, the little hippo can't stand it either. In winter, we use this heating to keep the water temperature at about 14 to 15 degrees Celsius. This piece is filtered. The water is filtered through the heater to the heater. After heating, the entire pool forms a cycle to remove the water from the pool. Becomes the temperature we want.
[Commentary] It is understood that Hippo's mother "Doodle" successfully gave birth to this healthy baby in the water on May 23. This little hippo was born with a height of 28cm and a body length of 63cm. It consumed breast milk in water and gradually began to learn to walk on land. During this period, the breeder has been paying attention to the physical status of the little hippo to ensure the nutrition and environment of the diet.
[Same period] Liu Xiaomi, Senior Engineer of Animal Feeding, Northern Forest Zoo
Since it was discovered that the hippo mother is pregnant, and it is winter, our veterinarians in animal hospitals every day, as well as technicians and breeders, watch it every day in time, depending on how much the hippo eats, for example, how much they eat, and then Looking at its feces, the body is too fat and a heavy burden on its legs, so we must control the hippo mother, nutrition should be enough to nurture its baby, and can not make it too fat.
[Commentary] The staff told reporters that under the careful care and patient education of the hippo mother, the baby hippo has reached 44cm in height and 83cm in length, and has grown into a smart, healthy, lively and cute baby hippo.
Reporter Wei Lai from Harbin, Heilongjiang
Editor in charge: [Song Fangcan]