In part five of the behind-the-scenes series, it’s time to meet the parents, starting with Fiona’s mother Bibi. Would the mother recognize her child? Would the plucky preemie hand-raised by humans know how to behave like a hippo? And what would father Henry do? Team Fiona share their feelings as they managed delicate introductions.
And now Fiona’s amazing story is told in a new book Hip, Hippo, Hooray for Fiona, a photo biography with dozens of pictures. Written primarily for young readers, the 40-page book will also serve as a “family keepsake,” says the Cincinnati Zoo, which will get a portion of the proceeds.
Fiona sticking her head in Bibi’s mouth still makes me nervous…
That was a very fast 11+ minutes! What joy to get to see them interact – and the keepers are so deservedly proud of their part in all of it. Yay, Fiona!
That zoo did a really fantastic job of raising Fiona! Kudos to them for doing *everything* right — and showing the public everything that was going on, good, bad,, or indifferent. Fiona is blossoming into a lovely young hippo, part of a happy hippo family, and I couldn’t be happier for them all, human and hippo, if I tried!
I’m all misty-eyed.