Metro Richmond Zoo has a new unique experience, meet-and-greet with viral pygmy hippo star Poppy and her mom, Iris.

The Metro Richmond Zoo announced "The Poppy Pygmy Hippo Experience" on Tuesday, giving visitors a chance for up-close and personal encounters with the viral baby hippo and her mom.

The United States now has its own pygmy hippo baby to compete with the cute viral hippo babies born in other countries recently.

Moo Deng the pygmy hippo, Flaco the escaped eagle-owl ... an enormous king penguin chick named Pesto — a 50-pound tower of downy brown fluff at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, in Australia ...

Here is a look at the creatures that broke the internet (and sometimes our hearts) in 2024. Read more at straitstimes.com.