Fiona (hippopotamus) facts for kids
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Fiona (left) with her mother Bibi (right) in May 2018
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| Species |
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|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Born | 24 January 2017 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Residence | Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Parent(s) |
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| Mate(s) | Tucker |
Fiona (born January 24, 2017) is a famous hippopotamus who lives at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. She was the first Nile hippo ever seen on an ultrasound before she was born. Fiona was also the first hippo born at the Cincinnati Zoo in 53 years. She was born early and needed special care from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Contents
Fiona's Early Life
Fiona's parents are named Henry and Bibi. She was the first Nile hippopotamus born at the Cincinnati Zoo in 53 years. She was also the first hippo of her kind to be scanned using ultrasound while still in her mother's womb.
A Premature Birth
Fiona was born six weeks early on January 24, 2017. She weighed only 29 pounds (13 kg) at birth. Most baby hippos weigh between 55–120 pounds (25–54 kg). Because she was so small, Fiona could not stand on her own. Zoo staff had to feed her with a bottle. They used milk from her mother and special baby formula. This was the first time hippo milk had been collected and studied.
Growing Stronger
The next month, Fiona started teething. She stopped wanting her bottle and became dehydrated. Doctors from Cincinnati Children's Hospital helped. They put a special tube into her to give her fluids. The hospital's team for premature babies had even sent a care package for Fiona earlier.
Zoo staff named the baby hippo Fiona. They thought her ears looked like the character Princess Fiona from the movie Shrek. Fiona took her first steps on February 5, 2017. By May 31, she weighed 275 pounds (125 kg) and was shown to the public. In June, she reached a normal weight of 317 pounds (144 kg). By six months old, she weighed over 375 pounds (170 kg). In late August, she weighed 451 pounds (205 kg).
Fiona's Milestones
On her first birthday, January 24, 2018, Fiona weighed more than 655 pounds (297 kg). By December 26, 2018, she weighed just over 1,000 pounds (450 kg). On her third birthday in January 2020, she weighed 1,300 pounds (590 kg). By her fourth birthday in 2021, she weighed 1,600 pounds (730 kg).
Family Life at the Zoo
An 18-year-old male hippo named Tucker moved to the Cincinnati Zoo. He came from the San Francisco Zoo. This move was part of a plan by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The goal was for Tucker to be a mate for Bibi, Fiona's mother. Tucker is slowly being introduced to Fiona and Bibi. On August 3, 2022, Fiona's half-brother, Fritz, was born. Fritz is the son of Tucker and Bibi.
Fiona's Popularity
Fiona quickly became very popular. The Fiona Show started on Facebook in August 2017. It showed videos of her life at the zoo.
Books and Viral Moments
Saving Fiona is a children's book about her. The zoo's director, Thane Maynard, wrote it. It was published in June 2018. A video posted by the zoo on social media became very popular. Also, a couple's photos of Fiona watching them get engaged in October 2017 went viral. In August 2018, a large painting of Fiona was put up in downtown Cincinnati. Lucie Rice won a contest to design this mural.
Fiona in Entertainment
Fiona was even part of the Cincinnati Ballet's Nutcracker show in December 2018. A dancer who was 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) tall played Fiona. She was said to have "stolen the show."
Super Bowl Predictions
Since her birth, Fiona has been used to predict the winner of the Super Bowl each year. She chooses between toys with the two teams' logos. She picked the winning team in 2018. She chose incorrectly in 2019. In 2020, she threw up on the toy for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs ended up winning that year!
More Books About Fiona
Illustrator Richard Cowdrey wrote two books about Fiona. One of them is a Christmas book called A Very Fiona Christmas.
See also
- List of individual hippopotamids
- Moo Deng, another hippo that gained online popularity
