Zoo celebrates arrival of Haggis the pygmy hippo

Haggis the pygmy hippo, born in Edinburgh Zoo in October 2024, has arrived at Wingham Wildlife Park

A Kent zoo is celebrating the arrival of its new resident, Haggis the pygmy hippopotamus, who has a worldwide fanbase.

The adorable hippo was born in Edinburgh Zoo in October 2024 and arrived at Wingham Wildlife Park on Tuesday after a long trip from Scotland.

The wildlife park described her as a "sassy wee character", adding they are the only zoo in the county to have a pygmy hippo, which is an endangered species native to Africa.

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Zoo said they "missed their pygmy princess but are looking forward to seeing what she gets up to on her next adventure".

Haggis is described as a "sassy wee character" by Wingham Wildlife Park

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Edinburgh Zoo says Haggis has an important role to play in the survival of her species.

Haggis has a global fanbase, having been featured on NBC's Saturday Night Live.

She also received a public apology from Greg James after she was called "not cute" on his BBC Radio 1 show.

Native to the forests of West Africa, pygmy hippos are under threat from habitat destruction due to mining and logging.

The London Zoological Society estimates there are only between 2,000 and 2,500 left in the wild, and is carrying out conservation work in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Born to parents Otto and Gloria on 30 October 2024, Haggis has been sent to Kent as part of an international breeding programme for the species, which is officially classed as endangered.