Photo courtesy of the Metro Richmond Zoo
Iris and Poppy enjoy the water at the Metro Richmond Zoo.
Move over Moo Deng, there’s a new baby hippo in town, just a two-hour drive from Alexandria.
In case you haven't heard, Moo Deng, the wildly popular pygmy hippopotamus garnering worldwide attention at a zoo in Thailand, has a little competition these days.
Poppy is a baby pygmy hippo recently born at the Metro Richmond Zoo, just down the road from Alexandria.
During the winter, Poppy and her mother Iris will remain in their indoor pool area during the day for public viewing and return to their hay-bedded bedroom in the evenings. When the weather is warmer and the baby is larger, they will move to the outdoor habitat, which has a large pool with underwater-viewing windows.
Iris gave birth to Poppy on Dec. 9. Iris and her mate, Corwin, have had three baby hippos together. Poppy has already become pretty popular, after a poll to help choose her name attracted more than 116,000 votes from 165 countries.
Metro Richmond Zoo is a privately owned zoo sitting on 150 acres. It features 2,000 animals and 190 species and is celebrating its 30th year in 2025. Each day features keeper talks and animal feedings. The zoo also features a train, skylift, drop tower, carousel, zipline and a kids’ play land.
Plan to visit? Here's more information:
Entry: $26.95 per person.
Location: 8300 Beaver Bridge Road, Moseley, Va.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday (closed Sundays)
Find all your ticket information here.
For more general information, visit the zoo’s website.
MORE TO DO IN RICHMOND
Dining nearby: The Boathouse at Sunday Park, 4602 Millridge Parkway, is a 15-minute drive from the zoo. Richmond has a robust dining scene and more than 30 craft breweries. Save room for dessert!
VisitRichmondVA.com has a long list of things to do in Richmond, from a vibrant arts scene to plenty to do with the kids.
Capital Tours — Visit Virginia's capital building, a historic and impressive structure with historical statuary and paintings. Tours are offered most days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more here.
Botanical Gardens — In warmer months, visit the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. The gardens spread across 50 acres and a domed conservatory. There are more than a dozen themed gardens.
