Colchester Zoo welcomes new pygmy hippo as part of conservation programme

Colchester Zoo has welcomed a young male pygmy hippo named Mikolas, who arrived on 3 December 2025 from Zoo Dvůr Králové in the Czech Republic.

Mikolas arrived just days after his second birthday as part of a European breeding programme aimed at protecting the endangered species. He has now settled into his new home at Kingdom of the Wild, where he can be seen alongside resident female pygmy hippo Venus, who has lived at the zoo since 2002 and is now 25 years old.

Although Mikolas is currently too young to breed, the zoo hopes he will eventually form a breeding pair with Venus as he matures. Pygmy hippos are typically solitary animals and usually only come together during the breeding season.

Jo Burch, Team Leader at Colchester Zoo, said Mikolas is settling in well and has already begun responding to keepers. She added that he has a particular fondness for vegetables, especially carrots.

Pygmy hippos are listed as endangered, with an estimated 2,500 individuals remaining in the wild in West Africa. Breeding programmes such as this one play an important role in helping to protect the species and maintain a healthy population.