Nature Park Viva Welcomes Italy’s First Baby Hippo Since 2021

A rare baby hippopotamus was born in Italy at Parco Natura Viva, where Camilla—a female nearly 55 years old—gave birth to her 15th calf. The birth took place in water, and in the first days the youngster began following its mother out of the pond with unsteady steps.

Camilla, who has lived at the park since 1976, is considered the oldest hippo in Europe and is believed to have exceeded the species’ typical life expectancy. After an eight-month pregnancy, she delivered on her own; for the first three days she stayed in the water, leaving only once the calf could follow. The calf weighs about 50 kilograms, while Camilla reaches around 2,500 kg, and both spend long periods nursing underwater and resting together to stay cool.

The new arrival highlights ongoing pressure on hippos: the species is listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List. Survival across Africa is threatened by freshwater habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, extractive activities and hunting, alongside trade in ivory from large canines and incisors. According to CITES data, between 2009 and 2018 international exchanges involved parts and derivatives linked to roughly 13,900 hippos; at the park, the calf will remain kept at a distance for the next few weeks.
Italian Version