Hippo Love Grows: New Pair Sparks Breeding Hopes

A new romantic connection is blossoming at Vadodara's Sayajibaug Zoo between Mangla, a six-year-old hippopotamus, and Bheem, a five-year-old male. Bheem was recently transferred from Junagadh's Sakkarbaug Zoo as part of an ongoing exchange program. The pairing aims to boost breeding possibilities and comply with Central Zoo Authority guidelines for animals to be kept in pairs.

Mangla's mother, 22-year-old Dimpy, is slated for transfer to Junagadh to join Neeraj, a male hippo. This move follows an earlier incident where Dimpy showed aggression towards Mangla. Zoo officials are cautiously preparing Dimpy for transport, as she has been reluctant to enter her travel cage.

Both zoos aim for successful hippo breeding, a feat Sayajibaug Zoo has achieved previously. Mangla and Bheem are in their prime mating years, and their compatibility is seen as a positive sign. The zoo's curator noted that hippos are territorial and form harem-like systems, making the introduction of a new male a natural cycle.

This hippo exchange is the final leg of a larger program initiated in January 2025, which has already seen transfers of wolves, hyenas, and various deer species. The zoo has a history of hippo breeding, having successfully raised Mangla with her previous partner, Chunnu, before his fatal encounter in 2020.