First pygmy hippo born at San Diego Zoo in about 30 years

San Diego Zoo has anunced first successful birth of an endangered pygmy hippopotamus at zoo in more than three deces.

Mabel, a 4-year-old pygmy hippo at zoo, gave birth to a 12-pound male calf on April 9. zoo anunced birth on Friday in recognition of Endangered Species Day and because calf has been deemed healthy by animal experts at zoo.

calf, which has t been named, is meeting and surpassing milestones, including ability to go underwater, zoo said.

re are fewer than 2,500 pygmy hippos living in rivers and streams in forest of West Africa, zoo said, and ir species are threatened by logging, farming and human settlement in ir habitat.