World’s Oldest Pygmy Hippo Throws Birthday Bash With Deli...

By Maria Azzurra Volpe

Life and Trends Reporter

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Hannah Shirley—the world’s oldest living pygmy hippopotamus in managed care—has celebrated her 52nd birthday in style this with week with a very appropriately themed party.

Born on November 22, 1973, Hannah Shirley is now twice as old as most members of her species, having well outlived the typical 25–30 year lifespan of pygmy hippos in the wild.

To celebrate the hippo’s special day, the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center threw her a “Hungry Hungry Hippos” themed party, complete with floating fruit treats and colorful decorations inspired by the beloved children’s game.

Nina Thompson—Public Relations Director at the San Diego Humane Society—told Newsweek that Hannah Shirley's party was held a early, during the week, so as many people could take part. "Everyone on our team loves Hannah!" she explained.

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Hannah was rescued by San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife team in 2002 after being found in a captivity in a private backyard in Escondido, and has remained in their care ever since.

She now thrives in a 13,000-square-foot habitat complete with a pond and pool, where she spends her days relaxing in the water, receiving spa-like back rubs and lots of sprinkler showers.

Her meals are also carefully tailored to support her age and her caregivers monitor her health closely, ensuring she enjoys a long, comfortable life.

“Anyone who meets Hannah falls in love with her,” said Angela Hernandez-Cusick, Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor at San Diego Humane Society, in a statement. “She embodies the joy and connection that make caring for wildlife so rewarding.”

Pygmy hippos, native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, are a vulnerable species with fewer than 2,500 individuals remaining in the wild.

While pygmy hippos have full legal protection in the countries where they live, greater conservation action is needed to safeguard their future. Their natural environment is being polluted and burned down, and people still hunt them for their meat.

The mammals were not known to Western science until 1840, and still to this day little is known about how they live in their native habitat. Only a few dozens Pygmy hippos reside in managed care across North America.

Hannah Shirley is not only a beloved ambassador for her vulnerable species, but also a symbol of the extraordinary impact of compassionate, expert care.

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