Pygmy hippo attacks, kills sitatunga at John Ball Zoo

GRAND RAPIDS — A pygmy hippo attacked and killed a sitatunga, a medium-sized antelope, at John Ball Zoo on Tuesday, May 16.

In a release, the zoo said the attack happened during a controlled introduction between the hippo and a male sitatunga named Chopper.

The two had been visually introduced throughout the last month in preparation for them to be in a new multi-species habitat together. Those meetings went well, the zoo said.

Trained animal staff brought Chopper into the hippo habitat for a controlled introduction when the pygmy hippo “suddenly attacked” the sitatunga, the zoo said. Zoo staff immediately separated the animals and the animal care team tried to resuscitate Chopper, but were unsuccessful. ............(more)

https://www.freep.com/story/news/state/2023/05/17/pygmy-hippo-attacks-kills-sitatunga-at-john-ball-zoo/70226682007/