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Visit Lola the baby hippo
Christmas is all about birth. There's also a fair bit of the nativity story that's based around animals.
So what better time to get down to Marwell Zoo to meet its latest inhabitant?
Lola, a baby pygmy hippopotamus, was born on Thursday, November 13, and was recently named after more than 14,000 votes were cast.
Lola received 7,838 votes, a whopping 53 per cent of those cast in the week-long online poll.
Pygmy hippos are elusive animals living in the swamps of western Africa. Lola's keepers had shortlisted four names after places in the pygmy hippo's native west Africa.
Lola is a town in the forest region of Guinea. Located near Mount Nimba, the highest peak in the country, the town is also well known for cloth manufacture and traditional medicine.
Lola's arrival is part of a conservation breeding programme to help save the species from extinction. With less than 3,000 in the wild, Lola is a vital addition to this rare and endangered species.
Ongoing deforestation in their natural habitat, combined with civil unrest, presents a significant threat to the population.
She lives with her big sister, Sirana, mum Wendy and dad Antone in Marwell's pygmy hippo house.
Keeper Claire Holmes says: 'I'm thrilled that so many people voted for Lola as it's my favourite name. It must have been a sign when Barry Manilow sang Copacabana with its opening line "Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl" on Strictly Come Dancing.'
The zoo is open every day except Christmas Day from 10am until 4pm and tickets cost 13.50 for adults and 9.50 for children. Call 01962 777407 or visit marwell.org.uk.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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