Berlin Zoo Asks for Help Naming Baby Hippo Whose Bath Video Went Viral

The Berlin zoo is asking for name suggestions for a resident baby hippo whose bath video went viral on social media.

Adorable new bath time footage taken by the zoo on June 26 shows the baby pygmy hippo getting cleaned again.

The zoo said in a press release that the video of the little animal’s sudsy first bath reached 6.8 million views on TikTok and 9 million views on Instagram.

“To give all hippo fans the chance to contribute their suggestions, there will be an opportunity to submit name suggestions for the little pygmy hippo in the comment column on the zoo’s social media channels Facebook, Instagram and TikTok until 5 July,” the zoo said in the press release, suggesting that the zoo director particularly likes “short, concise names with a Berlin connection.”

“The little one sleeps a lot, drinks about four times a day, and is weighed and bathed daily by the zookeepers,” said zoologist Dr Florian Sicks.

Sicks said the baby hippo, born June 3, already weighs 10 kg (22 pounds) and that her favorite hiding place is a pile of hay.

The baby hippo is not visible to zoo guests yet, but should be from the end of July onwards, the zoo said.

Pygmy hippos are an endangered species, according to the Pygmy Hippos Foundation. Credit: Zoo Berlin via Storyful