'%20id='ico-down'%20stroke='%23000000'%20stroke-width='1.5'%3e%3cg%20transform='translate(1092.250000,%20254.750000)'%3e%3cpolyline%20id='Path-2-Copy-4'%20transform='translate(5.500000,%202.750000)%20scale(1,%20-1)%20rotate(-180.000000)%20translate(-5.500000,%20-2.750000)%20'%20points='0%200%205.5%205.5%2011%200'%3e%3c/polyline%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
10 May 2007
ANTWERP – The Antwerp zoo welcomed a newborn hippopotamus to the world at 10 am this morning for the first time in 20 years.
Zoo workers realised only recently that mother hippopotamus Hermien was pregnant after she separated herself from the group and started to lactate.
The gestation period for a hippopotamus lasts 240 days but there are usually no outward signs.
Hermien gave birth to a baby in 1986 in the Antwerp zoo as well but has had two miscarriages since.
[Copyright Expatica News 2007]
Subject: Belgian news