The Metro Richmond Zoo announced the birth of a female pygmy hippo on December 9, 2023. This marks Iris's third female calf, enhancing conservation efforts for the endangered species with under 2,500 left in the wild. Born after a seven-month gestation in an indoor pool, the calf weighed 15 pounds at birth and is currently bonding with her mother in a private enclosure. The zoo highlighted the significance of the birth in preserving the species, which is native to West Africa and threatened by habitat loss and poaching.