COLCHESTER Zoo keepers have been left "distraught" by the sudden death of a baby Pygmy Hippo.

Keepers found Yeni unresponsive today and established the five-week-old died in the early hours of the morning.

The zoo said in a statement: "Yeni was happily swimming in the pool with Venus just the day before and there were no unusual signs to suggest anything could possibly be wrong. A post mortem will be carried out to determine the cause of death but at this time it remains unknown."

Mum Venus and dad Freddie the hippos became parents for the third time on January 22.

Yeni's birth was great news for the zoo as pygmy hippos are currently listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

Curator Sarah Forsyth said: “Yeni’s passing is a very sad loss to Colchester Zoo and her keepers are understandably distraught but are focusing on Venus to help her through this tough time."