Eight years ago, a tiny hippo was born too soon, and caregivers worked overtime to keep her alive. Today, Fiona’s a big girl living her best life with a loving family and her precocious brother Fritz. Happy birthday!
And it wouldn’t be a birthday party without treats!
Hippo Birdy, Fiona!
🦛 🐦 🐑🐑
God, has it really been eight years? I was still in my 20s when she was born?
Yeah, me too (NOT).
WHERE DOES THE TIME GO???
And also, I hope I don’t look like that when I eat …
I hope none of us do. Talk about see food!
I’m glad they included the thigh chomp. That will always be Fiona’s best move.
I love the windup before, and the look of self-satisfaction after.
My fave, too. The world’s cutest cronche!
I can’t believe that Fiona is 8 already!
The brightest spot in my week. Happy birthday, sweet girl.
I love how she knows what her audience wants, whether it’s photos or somersaults. Such star presence.
Love the ear wiggles!! Hard to believe it’s been 8 years.
Happiest of birthdays sweet girl!!! Thank you for all the cute through the years. Can’t believe she’s actually 8 and healthy, especially since they didn’t even think she’d make it at the beginning.
She’s mature now, though apparently hippos keep growing well into adulthood, if not indefinitely. I wonder if she’ll stay at Cincinnati for life. As we’ve probably all learned from viewing cute animal sites, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums has a Species Survival Plan for each species and often makes breeding recommendations that cause animals to be swapped among zoos to avoid inbreeding and preserve valuable genetics. I wonder if they make exceptions for “star” animals? And, since it is only a recommendation, I wonder how often zoos say no, and if there are consequences to their reputation or prestige?