After a tough week for staff at Melbourne Zoo with the death of their 33-year-old gorilla Julia, the zoo has welcomed a new addition to the pygmy hippopotamus family.

The zoo announced on Thursday that Petre and Felix the pygmy hippos have become parents. It is father Felix’s first baby and mother Petre’s fourth.

• Baby gorilla debuts at Taronga
• Hairy bundle of joy for Melbourne Zoo
• Zoo staff in mourning at loss of gorilla Julia

While zoo staff aren’t sure whether the calf is a boy or a girl, they said Petre is already “showing herself to be a very good and attentive mother.”

Petre came to Melbourne Zoo from Sydney’s Taronga Zoo in 2012, making this the first pygmy hippo born at Melbourne Zoo in 33 years.

The stubby-legged pygmy hippopotamus hails from west Africa and can grow up to three feet high, weighing around 250kg – although this calf is probably only between 4.5-6.2kg at the moment.

By comparison, their cousin, the common hippo can weigh up to an incredible 1500kg.

With an estimated 3000 pygmy hippopotamuses left in the wild, survival of the species depends on breeding programs like the one at Melbourne Zoo.

The zoo has been mourning the death of Julia the gorilla who died on the weekend after an incident with a male gorilla, Otana.

“What generally happens with gorillas is that they will have a struggle and then the group will calm down,” the zoo said on Monday.

“The injuries inflicted on Julia caused too much trauma on her muscles and tragically, after hours of veterinary intervention, she passed away as a result.”

The zoo released video of Petre’s ultrasound in March that showed this little tacker is going to be one good swimmer.