Orphaned hippo to have new mate<\/p>\n
Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Now the only male hippopotamus at Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta
\nafter the death of his father Omon last Wednesday, nine-year-old
\nJacky is expected to produce his own line.<\/p>\n
The zoo management plans to breed Jacky with his younger
\nsister Dania.<\/p>\n
"The plan is part of efforts to preserve the protected,
\nendangered species ... the offspring will replace Omon," zoo
\nveterinarian Wardani told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
The 35-year-old Omon, who was transferred from Surabaya zoo in
\nthe 1980s and had become one of Ragunan's oldest occupants, died
\non Wednesday afternoon after losing a territorial fight with his
\nson.<\/p>\n
According to Wardani, it was very common for hippopotami to
\nfight to establish their territory. Yet, the zoo did not place
\nthem in separate ponds.<\/p>\n
"Moreover, Omon died because he was already too old...he had
\neven lost his tusks."<\/p>\n
But everyone will have to wait until the two-ton Jacky shows
\ninterest in the younger female.<\/p>\n
"Hippopotami are just like humans...the chemistry has to be
\nright," Wardani explained.<\/p>\n
"If Jacky finds Dania uninteresting, then we will replace her
\nwith another hippo, probably from Surabaya," she added.<\/p>\n
However, she said, the zoo does not plan to add to its hippo
\ncollection as yet as "we don't want to have too many of them".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/orphaned-hippo-to-have-new-mate-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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