Pygmy hippopotamuses, as appropriately named, are small-sized relatives of common hippopotamuses. They are native to the swamps of West Africa, mainly Liberia.
Compared to their cousins, a pygmy hippo is tiny in size. It reaches just up to 80 cms in height, and its weight is less than one-fourth of that of a full-sized hippo.
Pygmies in general are nocturnal and solitary animals, eating only tree leaves, branches, fallen leaves, and fruits. With just less than 3000 individuals, they are classified as an endangered species by the IUCN Red List.
The main reasons for their population decline can be predicted – habitat loss, conversion to farm land and hunting for food. In spite of the prohibition of the bush meat trade and several awareness programs about the need to conserve endangered species, hunting of pygmy hippos is still a reality in Liberia.
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