Zoo Misidentifies Hippo for Seven Years, Reveals Gender
A hippopotamus that was believed to be male for seven years has been confirmed to be female by DNA testing. The 12-year-old hippo, named Gen-chan, arrived at the Osaka Tennoji Zoo in Japan in 2017 and was initially identified as male based on customs documents. However, zookeepers noticed that Gen-chan lacked typical male hippo behaviors, such as splattering feces around while defecating, and could not visually identify any male genitalia. This prompted them to request DNA analysis.
The results of the DNA test, which were announced last week, confirmed that Gen-chan is female. The zoo stated that it will continue to provide a comfortable environment for Gen-chan and encouraged visitors to come and see the hippopotamus.
Additional Details and Information
– Gen-chan is the second hippopotamus to be misidentified as to gender at the Osaka Tennoji Zoo. In 2010, a hippo that was believed to be female was later found to be male.
– The zoo has implemented new measures to ensure that all animals are correctly identified, including DNA testing for all new arrivals.
– The zoo is working with other zoos to develop new and more accurate methods for identifying the gender of hippos.
Conclusion
The misidentification of Gen-chan’s gender highlights the challenges that zoos face in identifying the gender of hippos. However, the use of DNA testing is helping to ensure that animals are correctly identified and that they are provided with the appropriate care.
