Four years after being born premature, Fiona the hippo is still focused on growing.Her head keeper Wendy Rice says the growing girl is eating every chance she gets."Food is the center of her universe," Rice said. “She’s weighing in right now at just under 1,600 pounds. And mama’ Bibi is closer to 3,500 pounds.”While she's growing every day, reaching new weight milestones, she still has a long way to go before she’s considered full grown, Rice said.Her keepers say she's not only growing physically but mentally as well. “She’s probably in her pre-teen years, we would say. In the last year, she kind of outgrew her sassy phase, and she’s really matured in a lot of ways. She’s become more independent.”That maturity can be seen in her relationship with her mom, Bibi, as well. “In the past, wherever Bibi was, that’s where Fiona was. Just this past year, she’s gotten a little bit braver and bolder. She’s also starting to read boundaries a little bit better with mom. She was pushing the envelope, trying to see what she could get away with. But she’s kind of settled down a bit and matured, and she can now read mama really well.”While she may have outgrown her sassy phase, she is still full of personality. "She’ll still come out here and put a show on for her guests," Rice said. “She really does have a connection with people – she always has. She still will come out here and put on a show for her fans. She’ll come right up to the glass and make eye contact with people. She understands that they’re here for her, and that she’s kind of a big deal. I think she appreciates her fandom, and tries to give them the best experience possible.”As far as breeding and having an offspring of her own, her keepers say those decisions will be made when the time comes. “We anticipate that she will not be sexually mature until about 5 or 6 years old – maybe even later than that because Fiona was a preemie," Rice said.But even so, Fiona isn't going anywhere.“If and when she gets a recommendation for a breeding partner, there’s a really good chance that the boy would have to come to Cincinnati. We do not want to have our princess leave Cincinnati, and the whole city would probably riot if she moved away," Rice said.
Four years after being born premature, Fiona the hippo is still focused on growing.
Her head keeper Wendy Rice says the growing girl is eating every chance she gets.
"Food is the center of her universe," Rice said. “She’s weighing in right now at just under 1,600 pounds. And mama’ Bibi is closer to 3,500 pounds.”
While she's growing every day, reaching new weight milestones, she still has a long way to go before she’s considered full grown, Rice said.
Her keepers say she's not only growing physically but mentally as well.
“She’s probably in her pre-teen years, we would say. In the last year, she kind of outgrew her sassy phase, and she’s really matured in a lot of ways. She’s become more independent.”
That maturity can be seen in her relationship with her mom, Bibi, as well.
“In the past, wherever Bibi was, that’s where Fiona was. Just this past year, she’s gotten a little bit braver and bolder. She’s also starting to read boundaries a little bit better with mom. She was pushing the envelope, trying to see what she could get away with. But she’s kind of settled down a bit and matured, and she can now read mama really well.”
While she may have outgrown her sassy phase, she is still full of personality.
"She’ll still come out here and put a show on for her guests," Rice said. “She really does have a connection with people – she always has. She still will come out here and put on a show for her fans. She’ll come right up to the glass and make eye contact with people. She understands that they’re here for her, and that she’s kind of a big deal. I think she appreciates her fandom, and tries to give them the best experience possible.”
As far as breeding and having an offspring of her own, her keepers say those decisions will be made when the time comes.
“We anticipate that she will not be sexually mature until about 5 or 6 years old – maybe even later than that because Fiona was a preemie," Rice said.
But even so, Fiona isn't going anywhere.
“If and when she gets a recommendation for a breeding partner, there’s a really good chance that the boy would have to come to Cincinnati. We do not want to have our princess leave Cincinnati, and the whole city would probably riot if she moved away," Rice said.
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