Fiona the Hippo: Get to Know This Incredible Animal
Fiona, otherwise known as “Baby Hippo”, is quickly becoming one of the most beloved animals at the Cincinnati Zoo. Born premature at only 25 pounds, she has grown and thrived under the guidance of her caretakers to become everyone’s favorite hippopotamus. Here are some interesting facts about this amazing animal that you may not have known before!
The Early Days
Fiona was born on January 24th, 2017 and weighed just 25 pounds – incredibly small for a newborn hippo. It was uncertain whether or not she would make it through the night but thankfully with lots of love and dedication from her caretakers, little baby Fiona beat all odds and quickly began to grow. She started out eating mostly bottled milk with occasional supplements of baby formula due to her still-developing digestive system; but in no time at all she was ready to enjoy a diet of greens and hay too – like any other young hippo!
Unbelieveable Growth
Although many were worried that Fiona’s tiny size would cause her health problems later on in life, those fears proved unfounded as she easily grew into a healthy adult-sized hippo. In only five short months, Fiona had already reached an impressive body weight of 177 pounds – which averages out to about four pounds per day! Her growth rate continues to amaze zoo-goers today as she now stands at over 1 ton.
Personality Plus
In addition to its impressive size, Fiona’s personality also draws large crowds each day. She is an active animal who loves playing around in her habitat (she can often be seen turning somersaults in the water) and exploring new things around her space (like splashing visitors through the glass window!). On top of that, fiona loves people so much that if you get close enough you may even be able to give her a gentle head rub or scratch on the back for which she will reward you with an ear-to-ear smile.
Making History
Fiona has made history by being the first ever member of her species born prematurely; setting a precedent for future generations and giving hope for those animals facing similar hardships in years to come. Additionally, since joining team #TeamFiona via social media outlets worldwide (including Twitter and Instagram) she has quickly become one of the most recognizable animals both here in Cincinnati Ohio and abroad; making connections with humans everywhere through her inspiring story of courage and determination!
