On 3rd December 2025, we welcomed young male pygmy hippo, Mikolas, from Zoo Dvur Kralove in Czech Republic.
Mikolas arrived at CZS just two days after celebrating his 2nd birthday, as part of an EEP (EAZA Ex situ Programme) breeding recommendation. Mikolas has now settled into his new home at Kingdom of the Wild and can be seen with resident female, Venus, who arrived at CZS in 2002 and is now 25 years of age.
Although Mikolas is currently too young to breed, we hope that he will eventually breed with Venus as he matures. Pygmy hippos are usually solitary animals and typically only come together during the breeding season. However, they can sometimes be found in small family groups.
Breeding programmes like these are incredibly important for the conservation of endangered species such as pygmy hippos, as their population numbers are still declining. With an estimated 2,500 individuals left in their native habitat in West Africa, pygmy hippos need our help to safeguard their future.
“Mikolas is a sweet little boy and is settling in well. We are starting to see more and more of his personality and have quickly learnt that vegetables, especially carrots, are definitely his favourite! Mikolas has started to respond to the Animal Care Team and is coming over when called. We are looking forward to watching him grow and what the future holds.”
– Jo Burch, Team Leader of Giraffe Section at CZS
The name hippopotamus derives from the Greek word for ‘river horse’ as they spend a lot of their time in the water. The term ‘pygmy’ refers to the small size of the species in comparison to their cousins, the common hippo. Pygmy hippos can weigh up to 300kg whereas the common hippo can weigh up to 3000kg – that’s the equivalent of 10 pygmy hippos!
There are many ways to support CZS’s mission for conservation and help care for wildlife and wild places. You can book a visit to the Zoo, become an annual member, adopt one of our amazing species such as the pygmy hippo, join us for an Animal Experience, or make a donation. Find out more about how you can help protect endangered animals, such as the pygmy hippo by visiting www.colchesterzoo.org
With the Zoo’s January Blues offer due to begin on the 5th January 2026 why not plan a visit to CZS and see Mikolas and Venus!
