Arizona’s Wildlife World Zoo has revealed the name of its new baby pygmy hippo after receiving thousands of votes from visitors and fans.
The animal, born Jan. 22, has been named Jellybean after the name collected 81.3% of the vote. Cadbury (7.3%) placed second, Twixi (6.9%) took third and Taffy came in fourth (4.6%).
Arizona’s Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park, President Kristy Hayden appeared on TODAY Feb. 23 next to Jellybean’s watering hole, and the baby hippo sat perched in Hayden’s lap.
Meet Jellybean!TODAY
“OK, so the moment we’ve all been waiting for, without any further ado — world, I’d like you to meet little Jellybean,” Hayden said to a round of cheers from TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager, Carson Daly, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Al Roker.
“I don’t know if we could have a cuter name for this adorable little hippo,” Hayden continued.
Pygmy hippos are an endangered species, with an estimated 2,500 still in the wild. Births are a rare occurrence, and Jellybean’s arrival can help play a part in their conservation.
Jellybean, along with mom Lollipop, will be on exhibit during regular hours at Arizona’s Wildlife World Zoo, which is located in the town of Litchfield Park, about 20 miles outside of Phoenix.
Jellybean was 11 pounds at birth, but was up to 33 pounds at last week’s most recent check-in. Pygmy hippos can grow to anywhere between 350 and 600 pounds.
Jellybean’s birth comes after the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand welcomed its own baby pygmy hippo in July 2024 named Moo Deng that went viral and sparked an influx of visitors to that facility.
“Moo Deng may not know (of her popularity), but her mom might be surprised as before it was quiet,” the keeper told TODAY in September 2024.