These are the joyous first strokes of a newborn hippopotamus , with its loving mother right there to help out . The baby hippo , who was born yesterday at San Diego Zoo , was filmed Tuesday exploring the waters with its mother , Funani . Zookeepers have not yet determined the name of the hippo calf , who is said to be bonding well with its mother . And they call it hippo love : The baby - yet to be named - and his mother Funani were pictured enjoying the water at San Diego Zoo , California . Observers have said Funani is nursing her newborn regularly - a process which will continue for the next eight months . Adorable footage of the two together shows Funani nudging the calf through the main hippo tank at the attraction . Later , the two relax at the water 's edge . Learning : Funani helped nudge her newborn through the water just a day after it was born . Bonding : Zookeepers say the two are getting along well together , and that Funani has been nursing the baby frequently . The calf 's father , a 3.6-tonne hippo called Otis , was removed from their tank in anticipation of the birth . The two will be reunited later on . Funani was born at Toledo Zoo in Ohio , and lived in Knoxville , Tennessee before coming West a decade ago . She has given birth two 11 calves since 1989 , the zoo said . One was born last April , but died just five days later , according to the San Diego Times . Hanging out : The two spent time at the edge of the water too , where the child nuzzled its mother . Veteran mom : Funani has given birth to 11 calves before , some when she lives in Knoxville , Tennessee .
Baby hippo came into the world Monday morning at California attraction . Mother Funani , who has birthed 11 calves , is said to be doing well . Happy baby 's gender is unknown so far , and it has not been named . The birth of a new calf in captivity can take up to three days for an animal that weighs only about 100 pounds ( or less ).