Pygmy Hippos
The pygmy hippopotamus, Choeropsis liberiensis is a shy inhabitant of the Upper Guinea Forest ecosystem of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire. With only about 2000-3000 individuals remaining, the pygmy hippo is classified as Endangered on the 2010 IUCN Red List, as well as being an Evolutionarily Distinct Species.
To prevent these enigmatic animals going extinct, ZSL has been working with partners in Liberia and Sierra Leone, carryimg out research to understand more about this species and establishing monitoring programmes using camera traps. We also led the production of the IUCN Pygmy Hippo Conservation Strategy in 2010.
Find out more about these amazing animals and why they are threatened
Protecting Pygmy hippos
ZSL's EDGE of Existence Programme has prioritised pygmy hippos since 2007. We have worked to conserve them in Sapo National Park, Liberia (with Fauna and Flora International) and in the Loma Mountains, Sierra Leone (with Njala University). Our camera traps captured some of first wild photos of this incredible species.
Find out more about our work to protect pygmy hippos
Photos from the Field
Check out the first camera-trap images of pygmy hippos in Sapo National Park and Loma Mountain, and get a feel for the fieldwork that goes on behind the scenes.
Pygmy hippos on film in Liberia
Support Our Work
With fewer than 3000 individual pygmy hippos remaining in increasingly isolated populations, the need for conservation action for pygmy hippos has never been more urgent.
Please support our critical conservation work in one of Africa's most biodiverse regions. Donate directly to the project:
Pygmies at the Zoos
ZSL zoos have been breeding pygmy hippos to give them a safety net. We have had some fantastic new arrivals.
Find out about our Pygmy hippo conservation breeding
See the pygmy hippos at ZSL London Zoo and at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Our supporters
