Dublin Zoo's 'lonely, lonely hippo' finally gets new mate after 7 years of solitude

Dublin Zoo’s ‘lonely, lonely hippo’ – who had been the only one of her species at the zoo since her mate died in 2017 – has finally got a new companion following the arrival of a 20-year-old hippopotamus named Ernie.

The Irish Mirror reported in February that an annual inspection of Dublin Zoo last year had noted that animals of social species at the popular attraction were all normally maintained in compatible groups – with the exception of a lone hippo named Heidi.

The 23-year-old had been a widow since the death of her partner, Henry, seven years ago. He was euthanised after suffering laboured respiration, and a post mortem found that his nasal canal was blocked and infected.

However, it was announced this week that Heidi has been joined by a new companion called Ernie on the African Plains at the zoo following his arrival from West Midlands Safari Park in England.

A spokesman for Dublin Zoo said he is settling in “very well” and will soon be formally introduced to Heidi, who is already showing “great interest” in the new arrival.

Ernie settling in at Dublin Zoo

“We are thrilled to welcome Ernie to the African Plains at Dublin Zoo,” said team leader Helen Clarke.

“It has been great to see Heidi taking such an interest in him already and we know visitors will enjoy seeing Ernie grazing in his outdoor habitat and enjoying the indoor pool.

“Hippopotamuses have always been popular with visitors at Dublin Zoo, and we look forward to hearing their unique honking and grunting across the African Plains.”

Hippopotamuses are one of the heaviest animals on Earth, sometimes weighing up to three-and-a-half tonnes. They are semi-aquatic animals, which means they can spend time on land and in the water.

They are mostly found across Sub-Saharan Africa in shallow lakes, rivers and swamps. They have many adaptations for their specific lifestyles, including walking and leaping along the waterbed.

Heidi wasn’t the only animal experiencing social issues at the zoo last year, according to the annual inspection report, as a number of male mangabey monkeys had been “ostracised” from their group.

The rift between the outcast monkeys and the rest of their troop was so serious that the inspectors insisted that a new home must be found for them immediately, making this a condition of the zoo’s renewed licence.

“Further action to locate a suitable home at another licensed zoo for the male mangabeys which have been ostracised from the group must be taken,” the inspection report read.

At the beginning of last year, there were six male and five female mangabeys at Dublin Zoo. The search for a new location “must prioritise the individuals’ welfare”, the inspectors added.

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