Two hippopotamuses at the Lost World of Tambun’s petting zoo recently got “married” in what is believed to be the first animal wedding in Malaysia.

Juwita and Jiwang's big day took quite a bit of planning, though.

Park general manager Nurul Nuzairi said the preparation for the wedding began last year after the zoo obtained Jiwang from a zoo in Pahang.

During the wedding, the “newlyweds” were fed a basket of fruits.

Hoping for a healthy calf soon

“We have been trying to get our female hippopotamus Juwita a mate since she first came to us five years ago as we wanted to ensure the male mate was from a different gene pool.”

“It is to ensure the calf they get will be a healthy one,” he said, as quoted in a report by Malay Mail.

Nurul said Juwita initially couldn’t get along with Jiwang, but she soon learnt to accept him.

Nurul added that Juwita is at an ideal age for calf bearing, and the zoo is hoping to get some ‘good news’ by Hari Raya. #nopressure

Congratulations to the couple! Hip hip hooray!