Mama Hippo on birth control surprises LA Zoo

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Zoo got a big surprise when Mara the hippo gave birth to a baby, despite being on birth control.

Staff at the zoo had noticed that Mara had been putting on weight, and suspected she might be pregnant, but there was no sure way to confirm their suspicions. Breeding at the zoo is under the strict oversight of The Species Survival Program, and Mara was on birth control, zoo officials said.

Mara went into labor on Friday, and some lucky visitors to the zoo got to witness the birth.

The zoo announced the birth on Monday, saying it was the first time in 26 years a baby hippo has been born there. There's no name yet for the baby, who is healthy. Zoo staff have not been able to get close enough to determine the baby hippo's sex.

Mara arrived in Los Angeles in 2013 from the Topeka zoo. She was brought to LA to be a companion to Adhama, the zoo's male hippo.

Mama and papa and the new baby are all doing well.