TAÏ HIPPO PROJECT | An unforgettable encounter!

As part of the collaboration between the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques in Côte d'Ivoire (CSRS) and the Institute for Breeding Rare and Endangered African Mammals (IBREAM), an exceptional expedition has just been completed in Taï National Park.

From February 4 to 18, 2026, a mixed team of four researchers, including two Ivorians (CSRS) and two Dutch (IBREAM), conducted a 14-day expedition, including six nights in the heart of Taï National Park, equipped with state-of-the-art night observation equipment (thermoscope and night vision binoculars), in search of one of the most mysterious and endangered animals on our planet: the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis).

February 17, 2026, the long-awaited moment has arrived...

At 10:33 p.m., after nights of patience and perseverance, the team was rewarded with a direct and striking observation: two pygmy hippos, including a mother and her calf, observed for 30 minutes. A rare, moving, and unforgettable moment for the entire research team.

These 14 extraordinary days remain etched in our memories as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving this iconic and endangered species, of which Côte d'Ivoire is home to one of the last viable populations in the world.

Our sincere thanks go to all our technical and financial partners, whose constant support over several decades has made this essential work for the conservation of the pygmy hippopotamus possible:

• Ivorian Office of Parks and Reserves (OIPR)

• Rotterdam Zoo

• GAIA Zoo

• Fondation de France

• IUCN – Hippopotamus Specialist Group

• Berlin Zoo

• Bioparc

• Overloon Zoo Park

• Givskud Zoo

• Antwerp Zoo

• Toronto Zoo

• Asson Zoo

Hermann Digbeu PhD/Dr Bogui Elie