ABQ BioPark Announces Baby Hippo’s Gender and Naming Contest

A lot has happened since the birth of Karen and Moe’s hippo calf on October 14—including a gender reveal! 

This beloved baby has captured the hearts of many, so we are excited to share that the calf is a girl! It’s only been two weeks, but she is already making a splash with her big personality.  

“She’s doing really well, and is the most active hippo baby we’ve had,” said BioPark senior keeper Bricker Thietten. “For many of the early milestones we have, like getting out of the pool and coming inside, she’s ahead of schedule.” 

When not napping, nursing, or playing in the pool, the baby has been venturing onto land with Karen during feeding time. This gives her an opportunity to strengthen her legs and learn more from mom.

While hippos nurse for at least a year or longer, animal care staff say they’re already seeing the baby show interest in solid food, which means she’s well on her way to her next big milestone of eating hay within a few weeks! 

As of now, Karen and the baby tend to keep to the far side of the pool and under the bridge. As for the rest of the family, they will likely keep their distance for the next few months until Karen and the calf are ready to regroup.

“We’ve had to change up our routine a bit, but the rest of the family is doing well,” said Thietten. “Karen and Moe’s four-year-old daughter, Matilda, is super curious. She knows not to get too close, but can't help it sometimes.” 

Like Matilda, we’re also eager to keep getting to know this newest addition to the family and we want the community to get in on the excitement, too! Help us pick a name for this bundle of joy by voting for your favorite out of four names chosen by our hippo care team. 

Voting closes Tuesday, November 4 at 11:30 pm. Vote daily on Instagram stories or on the web! Does she seem like a Maisy or Magdalena? Or is Chama or Pearl more fitting? You decide!