Hugo Pygmy Hippo Birthday Pickle Party at John Ball Zoo Sept. 3

It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming Hugo the baby pygmy hippo to Grand Rapids, and now this roly-poly potato is already turning one!

Obviously, this is a big "dill," and I do mean that literally.

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Grand Rapids' Pygmy Hippo Hugo Turns One

John Ball Zoo is throwing a huge Pickle Hippo Party on September 3 to celebrate Hugo reaching his first big birthday milestone.

👇BELOW: 15+ ADORABLE PHOTOS OF HUGO'S FIRST YEAR👇

If you know me, you know two things: I am completely obsessed with Hugo’s stumpy little legs, and I never pass up a good pickle fest. So when you tell me the zoo is combining pygmy hippos and pickles, I am so in.

The internet is already universally obsessed with pygmy hippos, and Hugo has been stealing hearts alongside his mama, Penelope, ever since he was a tiny 11-pound squish.

UP NEXT: Meet West Michigan's Other Baby Pygmy Hippo

Watching him grow over this past year from a curious calf shadowing his mom into a feisty, splash-loving icon has been an absolute delight for West Michigan.

Why Is John Ball Zoo Throwing a Pickle Party?

So what actually is a Pickle Hippo Party?

It turns out hippos do not actually eat pickles in the wild, but the team at John Ball Zoo is leveraging our collective internet obsession to raise funds for a giant, durable, commercial-grade pickle toy for Hugo to play with in his habitat. Think something like this:

The main birthday event runs from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on September 3, which is when keepers will present Hugo with his big birthday enrichment, pass out free pickle stickers while supplies last, and host the official celebration moment.

But the fun lasts all day long with pickle-themed food and beverage specials, themed decorations, and a crowd full of excited fans showing up to show some love.

How to Get Into Pickle Party and Support Hugo

Standard zoo admission or membership gets you right into the party, and if you want to chip in a donation to help buy the world's most epic hippo toy, the online fundraiser is open right now. Any leftover funds go straight toward Hugo's second year of care and supporting all of his animal neighbors at the zoo.

Get your tickets, clear your morning schedule, and let's go relish this birthday moment with Hugo and Penelope!

Hugo Turns 1: Photos of John Ball Zoo’s Famous Pygmy Hippo

It feels like just yesterday West Michigan fell in love with a tiny, 11-pound squish born late on September 3, and now Hugo the pygmy hippo is officially turning one in 2026!

As the very first pygmy hippo calf ever born at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, his arrival was a massive milestone for wildlife conservation. Pygmy hippos are classified as Endangered by the IUCN, with fewer than 3,000 remaining in the wild. Male calves like Hugo are especially vital to the AZA Species Survival Plan due to a heavily female-skewed population in human care.

Over the past 12 months, local animal lovers have watched this quirky calf transform from a curious baby shadowing his mom, Penelope, into a splash-loving icon. To celebrate his big first birthday, take a look back at more than a dozen photos capturing Hugo's unbelievable first year growing up in Grand Rapids!

Gallery Credit: Janna