The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens’ hippopotamus family swam together for the first time on Tuesday, July 11. Baby hippo Fiona was separated from mother Bibi and father Henry when she was born six weeks early in January.
Fiona and Bibi have spent significant time together, and Henry has spent some time with Fiona. But the three had not spent time together as a family until Tuesday morning before the zoo opened. Bibi intervened when she felt Henry got too close to Fiona, the zoo said.
The zoo said the three hippos will be spending more time together, though there is no set schedule.
Fiona was born in January at 29 pounds, which is about 30 pounds lighter than the normal weight range for a baby hippo. She now weighs almost 375 pounds. The zoo staff cared for Fiona away from her parents and the zoo crowds for several months before introducing her to the outdoor habitat and to her parents. Credit: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens via Storyful
