Prince Harry, the pygmy hippopotamus, who shot to worldwide fame with his adorable face and small stature, died Wednesday in South Africa while undergoing surgery.
Prince Harry was being operated on to repair an umbilical hernia, according the the Cango Wildlife Ranch. He went into respiratory arrest and ultimately heart failure. Doctors were unable to resuscitate him.
Prince Harry was born at the Cango Wildlife Ranch in Oudtshoorn, South Africa, on March 22, 2012. He weighed in at a mere 11 pounds.
Prince Harry won his name thanks to the British royal of the same name, who loves animals and recently visited Africa.
Prince Harry was one of less than 3,000 pygmy hippos left in the world, according to the Cango Wildlife Ranch.
"The pint-sized 'jelly-belly'...will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of meeting him," staff at the Cango Wildlife Ranch said in a statement.
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