The Metro Richmond Zoo in Moseley, Virginia, has announced the name of a female baby pygmy hippo born there on Dec. 9.
Drum roll, please…
After a public vote, the hippo has been named Poppy, zoo director Jim Andelin revealed exclusively on TODAY Jan. 6. The moniker picked up 52.8% of the vote, while the other choice, Hammie Mae, notched 47.2%. More than 116,000 votes from 165 countries were cast.
Born to parents Iris and Corwin, Poppy — a flower like her mom Iris’ name — was the subject of a fan vote that initially saw the public getting to choose among Poppy, Juniper, Hammie Mae and Omi. However, none of those earned 50% of the vote by the New Year’s Eve deadline, prompting a runoff between the top two names. Polls closed Jan. 4.
Poppy, who was 15 pounds at birth, is Iris and Corwin’s third calf born in the last four-and-a-half years, all of whom are females. Poppy’s arrival also marked the first time Iris gave birth in water. Common hippos are typically delivered underwater, while pygmy hippo calves can be born on either land or in water.
“The pygmy hippo is an endangered species native to the swamps and rivers of West Africa,” the zoo said in a statement announcing Poppy’s birth. “Less than 2,500 mature individuals remain in the wild. This birth — like all of Iris’ births — plays an important role in helping protect this rare and elusive species.