Adventure World welcomed a female mini hippo from NIFREL (Suita City, Osaka Prefecture) on April 7, 2025. Since her arrival, NIFREL veterinarians and curators have been visiting our park and working with our breeding staff to care for the mini-hippopotamus, giving top priority to her health and safety, and she has been spending time in the backyard getting used to her new environment.
　Around mid-July, they began practicing spending time on the playground, and now that they are able to spend time calmly, they will be open to the public from Friday, August 1, 2025. On the first day of the public opening, the mini hippos will be given a watermelon, their favorite food!

About the opening to the public of the mini hippos】
■Start date
From Friday, August 1, 2025
■Hours
10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
*Normal business period ends at 3:30 p.m.
*The watermelon giveaway will be held at 10:30 a.m. on August 1, 2025 (Friday).
■Public viewing location:
Fureai Plaza Mini-Hippo Exercise Area
*Everyone is welcome to view the exhibit.
　*Public viewing may be suspended due to weather conditions or the animals' physical condition.

About the mini hippopotamus that joined us from Nifrelle]
・Sex ：Female
・Date of birth ：Born on June 18, 2021 (4 years old)
※Born in Nifrelle
・Nickname ：Tenten

【About mini hippopotamus】
Mini hippopotamus is a small species of the hippopotamus family found only in a limited area in West Africa.
■Scientific name : Choeropsis liberiensis
■English name : Pygmy Hippopotamus
■Classification : Even-toed ungulates (hippopotamus), family Hippopotamidae, genus Cervus
■Population : Estimated to be 2,000 to 2,500 in the wild, and said to have become extinct in Nigeria and other areas.
Habitat: Forests and swamps in West Africa
■Life span: 15-20 years in the wild 35-40 years in captivity
■Characteristics: Lives alone and is nocturnal. Grows to about 1.7 m in length and 270 kg in weight.
■Food: Feeds on grasses, leaves, and fruits. In captivity, they are fed hay, green grass, sweet potatoes, and fruits.
Reproduction ： Sexual maturity is 3-5 years old. Gestation period is about 6 months.

Only 14 mini-hippopotamuses are kept at six facilities in Japan, and they are in danger of extinction due to habitat destruction and overhunting. We are committed to spreading the word about their current status and contributing to the preservation of the species.