Hippo on birth control delivers stillborn twins at Calgary Zoo
Posted Jan 4, 2014 11:33 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Calgary Zoo nearly had their own New Year’s babies, but unfortunately things didn’t go as planned.
The zoo’s female hippopotamus Sparky gave birth to stillborn twins on Friday.
Officials tried to revive the pair, but were unsuccessful.
Given Sparky’s age and the fact she was on birth control, it would have been a holiday miracle.
They definitely didn’t plan on her pregnancy, but curator Colleen Baird says they would have liked the opportunity to care for the young twins.
She said they are now focused on Sparky’s health.
“Our biggest concern is Sparky and how she is doing,” Baird said. “We’re keeping her under close watch and veterinary care.”
“She did everything right, she was phenomenal during that process and that experience, even in recovering she is strong and doing well.”
Baird said Sparky still needs some time to physically recover from the ordeal.
