For the ‘curiosities about hippos’ column such as the beneficial properties of their sweat, today we are talking about an event that is truly incredible. We are at the Osaka Zoo in Japan, where a hippopotamus changed sex after 7 years. Ok, that’s not exactly what happened, but zoologists were late in realizing his sexuality.
Gen-chan, a hippopotamus native to Mexico and a resident of the zoo since 2017, was identified as female after 7 years, dispelling the erroneous belief that he was male. This error came to light only after observing behaviors that did not correspond to those typical of a male of his species.
Arriving at the zoo at the age of five, she had been classified as male based on import documents from Africam Safari in Mexico. These documents were not questioned until Gen-chan’s behavior began to raise doubts among the custodians. Particularly absent was the act of courtship towards females and marking the territory in a conspicuous way, typical of males of his species.
Peculiarities in Gen-chan’s behavior prompted zoo officials to carry out a DNA testing, which revealed his true nature. Kiyoshi Yasufuku, deputy director of the zoo, stressed the importance of verifying the sex of animals to avoid future errors. The news sparked a mixture of surprise and reflection on how initial mistakes can lead to unexpected discoveries.
Furthermore, despite the discovery, Gen-chan’s name will remain unchanged, maintaining a connection to his history at the zoo. The zoo’s management promised to continue to ensure a comfortable environment for her, reiterating their commitment to caring for their animals with the utmost care and respect.
But having said that, have you ever witnessed the very tender birth of a pygmy hippopotamus?
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