Last update: Fri Nov 7 2008 23:14:36

Rare baby hippo born

Australia's Taronga Zoo has shown off its latest addition - a three-week-old pygmy hippopotamus.

Monifa only weighs 6kg and is the size of a puppy.

The zookeepers at the Sydney zoo said she is doing great.

Senior keeper Renae Zammit said the birth of Monifa is extremely important as "every hippo that's born in a zoo is helping to support the declining wild population."

Less than 3,000 pygmy hippos are believed to be left in the wild.

The endangered hippos inhabit the lowland tropical forests of western Africa.

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