A Japanese zoo has announced a correction about the sex of its hippo after seven years of confusion.
The Japan News reported that the rare incident occurred at Osaka Tennoji Zoo in Osaka (Japan). Gen-chan, The 12-year-old hippo, a resident of the zoo, was identified as male.
Gen-chan the hippo. (Photo: Osaka Tennoji Zoo)
Osaka Tennoji Zoo adopted Gen-chan from a zoo in Mexico in 2017 when he was 5 years old. Mexican zoo staff said Gen-chan’s gender was male and the necessary documents for entry clearly stated that.
In August 2017, Osaka Tennoji Zoo decided to name the hippo Gen-chan after holding a naming contest. The name was chosen because it matched the energy of a male hippo. Gen-chan became familiar to visitors to the zoo.
Hippos typically reach sexual maturity around the age of 10. However, zookeepers were puzzled because Gen-chan did not appear to be spreading feces to assert his territory or court females, as males typically do.
Because Gen-chan’s body is large, it is difficult to confirm the animal’s gender with the naked eye through its reproductive organs, so the zoo requested a DNA analysis in April. On April 16, Gen-chan was confirmed to be a child.
Osaka Tennoji Zoo later announced: “We had no doubt about Gen-chan’s gender as he was identified as male when he was sent from Mexico. Based on the results, we realized the importance of reconfirming the animal’s gender and we are determined to ensure that this will never happen again.”
In the end, Osaka Tennoji Zoo decided not to change Gen-chan’s name.
According to Tin Tuc Newspaper