CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Metro Richmond Zoo said 52,794 people cast their votes to name their new baby Pygmy hippo . But none of the four options — Poppy, Juniper, Hammie Mae and Omi — got over 50% of the vote that closed Tuesday, so the top two names are headed to a runoff.
The final two names for the public to vote on are now Hammie Mae and Poppy. You can vote for the baby Pygmy hippo’s name at the Metro Richmond Zoo website .
It was overnight that the baby hippo captured hearts across the world. Since Tuesday, the public can now go see her and her mom for themselves.
“She’s a curious and brave little Pygmy hippo,” lead zookeeper Jan Lopez said.
Vote to name new baby pygmy hippo at Metro Richmond Zoo
On Dec. 9, the hippo’s mother, Iris, gave birth to the little hippo with perfectly dewy skin, plump pink cheeks and neck rolls for days.
“She’s pretty funny,” Lopez said. “She sometimes has her little zoomies and she’ll hop around.”
Iris was pregnant for seven months, but the birth only took about 15 minutes. She got to the zoo when they opened their Hippo Haven back in 2018, then came her boyfriend Corwin. This is their third baby in five years.