The birth of a hippopotamus calf at the BioPark on Tuesday morning was a cause for celebration, and a rare one at that.The newborn hippo, weighing at least 50 pounds, was delivered around 9:10 a.m. in a pool of water, where it immediately began bonding with its mother, Karen.Hippo calves are born underwater and are able to breathe and walk at birth. The gender and name of the calf had not been determined as of 4 p.m. Tuesday. The hippo habitat is expected to be closed to the public for a few days to give her and her offspring some privacy. Once it reopens, visitors will be asked to speak quietly.”As far as the baby, it’s Karen’s choice on what she’ll allow,” said Bricker Thietten, a member of the hippo care team. “Once she starts to bring the baby inside, we’ll start getting as close as we can to start early health assessments.”Karen has already had three calves. All have the same father, Moe, a longtime BioPark resident who will turn 52 years old in two weeks. Their four-year-old daughter, Matilda, has grown up without her siblings until now.Hippopotamuses are native to Africa and their population is listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

The birth of a hippopotamus calf at the BioPark on Tuesday morning was a cause for celebration, and a rare one at that.

The newborn hippo, weighing at least 50 pounds, was delivered around 9:10 a.m. in a pool of water, where it immediately began bonding with its mother, Karen.

Hippo calves are born underwater and are able to breathe and walk at birth. The gender and name of the calf had not been determined as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The hippo habitat is expected to be closed to the public for a few days to give her and her offspring some privacy. Once it reopens, visitors will be asked to speak quietly.

“As far as the baby, it’s Karen’s choice on what she’ll allow,” said Bricker Thietten, a member of the hippo care team. “Once she starts to bring the baby inside, we’ll start getting as close as we can to start early health assessments.”

Karen has already had three calves. All have the same father, Moe, a longtime BioPark resident who will turn 52 years old in two weeks. Their four-year-old daughter, Matilda, has grown up without her siblings until now.

Hippopotamuses are native to Africa and their population is listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.