Cheyenne Mountain Zoo welcomes new red river hog

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is celebrating the arrival of its newest resident, a baby red river hog.

The zoo said zoo keepers were suspicious a baby may be on the way, and on the morning Fri. Aug. 12, their suspicions were confirmed when they found hog mom, Zena, resting peacefully with her new baby.

“We are over the moon with excitement for this little one,” said Lauren Phillippi, lead keeper in African Rift Valley. “Red River hog babies are some of the cutest in the whole animal kingdom with their little stripes, tiny statures, and energetic behaviors.”

The zoo said the hoglet appears to be in good health and is about the size of its mom's snout. The hoglets are often described as having a watermelon pattern which as they grow older will turn to a bright orange coat. As babies, they also have brown and white stripes and brown and white spots that act as important camouflage.

The sex of the hoglet likely won't be known for several weeks and the baby likely won't be named for at least 30 days.

The zoo said this is Zena's second hoglet with father Huey, the zoo's 15-year-old male red river hog. According to the zoo, red river hog fathers, unlike many other species, are active in raising their young. For now, Zena and the baby will get time alone before being introduced to Huey and sibling Pinto.