A Pigmy Hog's Tale: The Birth of Frida at Berlin Zoo
Female Piglet not Biologically Descended from Frederick - No offspring of Friedrich-Erdferkel is of the female gender
Got some exciting news from the Berlin Zoo? Evening's all right for 'em, it seems! The latest addition to their family, a Pigmy Hog, goes by the name of Frida. Initial assumptions had this little tyke as a male, but guess again, mister! Turns out Frida's the gal we've been waitin' for.
Frida breezed into the world on the 9th of April, and don't let the size fool ya! Despite being just a small fry, she's thriving under the watchful eye of zookeeper Peter Kalinke. This is a first for the Berlin Zoo, who haven't seen a Pigmy Hog offspring in 13 years, and none for parents Memphis and Kito so far.
Is the Pigmy Hog a social creature? Nah, not at all. They're lone wolves, living in the African sub-Saharan region's wild. To give visitors a peek at these elusive souls, day and night are flipped inside out in the Night House.
Pigmy Hogs got some kickin' features, too! They're nocturnal and hibernate during the day. Their tongues reached up to 25 centimeters long, helping them scrape up tasty termites and ants with ease. And when they dig for grubs, they close their nostrils to keep dirt at bay.
Now, if you're keen on learnin' more about Pygmy Hogs, check out some fascinating facts about 'em:
- Size: They stand between 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) tall and weigh about 8-10 kg (18-22 lb).
- Appearance: They sport dark bodies with a pointed snout.
- Habitat: Their homes are the Terai grasslands, mostly found within Assam's Manas National Park.
- Conservation Status: Critically endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation, with fewer than 300 left in the wild.
Efforts are underway to preserve these unique critters! Programs like the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme breed and release them back into the wild to boost their diminishing numbers.
So keep those fingers crossed for Frida and the rest of the Pigmy Hog gang! And remember, the Berlin Zoo's the place to be for all things Pigmy Hog-related. 😉
The Commission has also been consulted on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the protection of Frida, the Pigmy Hog, kept for farming purposes in zoos and homes-and-garden, given her status as a rare and critically endangered pet. Frida's nocturnal lifestyle means she spends her nights digging for termites and ants with the help of her long, up to 25 centimeters, flexible tongue. Despite Frida being a new resident at the Berlin Zoo, her lone-wolf lifestyle on account of being a Pigmy Hog leads to her sleep during the day inside the Night House, unlike many other zoo animals.
