Pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis); this individual is in a zoo.
Image: JMK, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The pygmy hippopotamus is a small, secretive forest relative of the common hippo. It is assessed as Endangered.
Far smaller and more solitary than the common hippo, it spends more time on land in dense forest.
Range & habitat
Forests and wetlands of West Africa, mainly Liberia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Deforestation and habitat loss
- Hunting
- A small, fragmented population
Why it matters
A rare and elusive forest species, the pygmy hippo is a flagship for protecting the threatened Upper Guinean forests of West Africa.
Sources
Sources for Pygmy Hippopotamus
- IUCN Red List — look up Pygmy Hippopotamus (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the pygmy hippo different from the common hippo?
It is much smaller, more solitary, and lives in dense forests and swamps rather than open rivers, spending comparatively more time on land.
Why is the pygmy hippopotamus Endangered?
Published assessments cite deforestation, hunting, and a small, fragmented population in West Africa. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
Last updated: