Haggis the Scots baby pygmy hippo gets her very own 'address' for Burns Night

If you haven't heard of Scotland's own adorable answer to Moo Deng, the viral pygmy hippo, then get ready for a dose of cuteness on a cold January afternoon.

In a team up no one was expecting, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has introduced our national bard to Haggis, Edinburgh Zoo's little baby pygmy hippo in what might be the most endearing Burns Night content yet.

Celebrating with its very own Robert Burns impersonator, the zoo has created its very own Address to Haggis.

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In honour of the Bard's way with words, the wildlife conservation charity’s new take on the Address to a Haggis is a toast to both Scottish tradition and one of the most beloved zoo residents.

Little Haggis has become a star attraction in her own right
Little Haggis has become a star attraction in her own right -Credit:RZSS

With the little female calf, who was born in late October last year, now settling into her new home with parents Otto and Gloria, and becoming a star in her own right, the zoo has released the lyrics and a clip of the Address to Haggis.

An Address to Haggis Lyrics:

O Edinburgh, sae proud an’ braw,

Thy hills an’ streets, they mak’ me draw,

Wi’ fondness in my heart sae true,

For thee, an’ all thy wonders too.

But noo, there’s joy that fills the air,

A wee bairn born, a creature rare,

A wee hippo, small an’ sweet,

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Wi’ stubby legs an’ muddy feet.

Haggis is the name, ye ken,

A jolly soul, a tiny gem,

Born beneath the Scottish sky,

Wi’ eyes that gleam an’ make ye sigh.

In the waters, she does glide,

A tiny splash wi’ every stride,

An’ in the mud, she’s seen to roll,

Wi’ joy that fills her little soul.

O Haggis, wee an’ full o’ cheer,

A treasure for the zoo, so dear,

Thy gentle ways, thy playful glee,

Bring smiles to all who come to see.

Thy kin may roam in lands afar,

But here ye are, a star by far,

A symbol of the zoo’s delight,

That lights the day an’ warms the night.

An’ when ye grow, though still so small,

We’ll remember, dear, the first of all,

A baby hippo, full o’ grace,

A bairn that’s left a lasting trace.

So, here’s to Haggis, joy an’ pride,

A wonder in the waters wide,

May ye grow strong, an’ ne’er forget,

The love we have, an’ our hearts set.

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For in thy smile, so full an’ bright,

We see the world’s purest light,

An’ Edinburgh, O zoo sae grand,

Haggis shall walk with joy at hand.

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