Back in mid-October, the Albuquerque BioPark welcomed a brand-new baby, and she might just be the cutest thing the zoo has ever introduced: a tiny female Nile hippo with a big personality. She’s not ready for public viewing just yet, but the zoo has been sharing adorable “report cards” so fans can follow along as she learns the ropes of hippo life.
Keepers say she’s the most active baby hippo they’ve ever had—but in this new clip, she’s finally hitting her limit. After an energetic morning of nonstop splashing and exploring, the little one decides it’s time for a nap. Her chosen spot? Right in the middle of the hay her mom is trying to eat. Watch closely and you’ll see Mom repeatedly nudging her new baby out of the way so she can keep snacking, while the tired youngster gets increasingly irritated at having her nap interrupted.
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That huge yawn at the start of the video makes it clear: this girl was done for the day. The zoo even captioned the moment perfectly: “You’re just trying to take the best nap of your life, and your mom keeps eating your pillow.” Mom didn’t budge, so chances are the next nap will be taken far, far away from mealtime.
The little hippo was born early on Tuesday, October 14, becoming the fourth calf for parents Karen and Moe. She also shares the habitat with her four-year-old sister, Matilda. Senior keeper Bricker Thietten told KOB4 that both mom and baby are thriving and in great health.
He also shared that Karen’s pregnancy wasn’t part of the zoo’s breeding plan. “Generally, we keep our animals on birth control if it’s not planned,” he explained. “But it’s not 100% effective, and we did see the breeding back in February. So we’ve been ready.”
At the end of October, the zoo launched a naming contest to find the perfect fit for the new arrival. The options were Magdalena (Maggie), Maisy, Chama, and Pearl. On November 5, the BioPark announced the winning name: Maisy, which earned more than 46,000 votes. Associate director Lynn Tupa shared, “Maisy, a name of Scottish origin meaning pearl, is a charming name that we feel suits this baby wonderfully.”
Maisy already has fans everywhere, and we can’t wait to watch her grow—and eventually team up for playtime with big sister Matilda.