Timor deer numbers exceeds the capacity of a housing at Surabaya Zoo (5/13) in Surabaya. There has been an ongoing conflict within Surabaya Zoo internal management that has lead to numerous fatalities over the last four years due to malnourishment and improper housing. Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Surabaya zoo starts the new year cheerfully as it welcomes two new members. A baby hippopotamus was born on January 1 at 05:00 local time and a baby bawean deer was born on January 2 at 17:00 local time.
“All praise to God, it is a new year present,” said Managing Director of Surabaya Zoo Ratna Achjuningrum when contacted by Tempo on Sunday, January 4.
The gender of both babies have yet to be known. The baby deer weighs about 4 to 5 kilograms while the baby hippopotamus is around 10 kilogram. Both are still kept in the cages since the zoo has yet to take action for the babies.
“The birth went normally like what happened in the original habitation. The mothers are also very protective.
Ratna is planning to name the babies on Tuesday, January 6.