Orphaned hippo to have new mate

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".