Orphaned hippo to have new mate

Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Now the only male hippopotamus at Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta after the death of his father Omon last Wednesday, nine-year-old Jacky is expected to produce his own line.

The zoo management plans to breed Jacky with his younger sister Dania.

"The plan is part of efforts to preserve the protected, endangered species ... the offspring will replace Omon," zoo veterinarian Wardani told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

The 35-year-old Omon, who was transferred from Surabaya zoo in the 1980s and had become one of Ragunan's oldest occupants, died on Wednesday afternoon after losing a territorial fight with his son.

According to Wardani, it was very common for hippopotami to fight to establish their territory. Yet, the zoo did not place them in separate ponds.

"Moreover, Omon died because he was already too old...he had even lost his tusks."

But everyone will have to wait until the two-ton Jacky shows interest in the younger female.

"Hippopotami are just like humans...the chemistry has to be right," Wardani explained.

"If Jacky finds Dania uninteresting, then we will replace her with another hippo, probably from Surabaya," she added.

However, she said, the zoo does not plan to add to its hippo collection as yet as "we don't want to have too many of them".