Wildlife park introduces first pygmy hippo born in Kansas

GODDARD, Kan. (AP) - A wildlife park near Wichita is showing off the first pygmy hippo born in Kansas.

The Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard says the pygmy hippo was born recently. It will be on exhibit at the wildlife park starting Saturday.

The baby is believed to be a girl. It weighed about 13 pounds and is about the size of shoebox.

Tanganyika Wildlife Park’s two adult pygmy hippos are the only ones living in Kansas, and the first to give birth in the state.

Assistant Director Matt Fouts says the birth is a “huge milestone” for the wildlife park. He says it is the park’s 40th successful breeding for rare or endangered species.

There are only 70 pygmy hippos in the U.S. and about 3,000 on the planet.