DNA test reveals

Male hippo turns out to be female in zoo

After a DNA test, "Gen-chan" will be given appropriate living conditions.

(Bild: AFP)

Due to an "unusual toilet behavior", the sex of a hippopotamus in a zoo in Tokyo could finally be clearly determined after more than seven years. A boy became a girl!

For seven years, the twelve-year-old female hippopotamus "Gen-chan" supposedly lived the life of a male. The animal had been brought to Tokyo from a zoo in Mexico and the customs documents stated that it was a male hippo.

Keepers were suspicious
But the animal keepers in Osaka began to have doubts. Mainly because "Gen-chan" did not display the typical male hippo behavior of splashing around with a propeller-like tail movement when defecating - to mark its territory.

Nor did the hippo make any courting calls to females. And the keepers were unable to detect male genitalia, which is basically a dangerous task given the size and dangerous nature of hippos.

"Gen-chans" living conditions are being adapted
In view of these observations, the zoo finally commissioned a DNA test: "The result is that it is a female," the zoo announced. It will now ensure that "Gen-chan" is given the appropriate living conditions.