At first glance, the pygmy hippo may resemble its larger relative, the common hippopotamus. However, it has fully developed to be half the size and one-quarter the weight of its bigger cousin. Its nostrils are also less prominent, as it spends much less time in aquatic environments than the common hippopotamus.

History: Pygmy hippos are at risk of extinction due to various factors. Their forest habitat in West Africa is being depleted by logging activities for housing and land for agriculture. This logging not only shrinks the area where hippos can live but also isolates populations from each other, limiting their genetic diversity. They are also hunted illegally (poaching) for their meat.

Scientific name: Choeropsis liberiensis

Features: This small figure of a pygmy hippo poses in the middle of a walk, as if strolling through the forests it calls home.