Timothy the hippo, otherwise known as Fiona's biggest admirer, welcomed the Cincinnati Zoo's new hippo, Tucker, to Cincinnati this week.Timothy lives more than 1,100 miles away at the San Antonio Zoo, but he's been madly in love with Fiona for years now.In fact, Timothy is known for writing Fiona love letters on the San Antonio Zoo's Facebook page and sending her charming gifts on her birthday and Valentine's Day. For her birthday last year, Timothy gifted Fiona an Edible Arrangement.This year for Valentine's Day, Timothy stepped up his game and went the extra mile — or 3,000 extra miles to be more exact — to give an extra special gift to his longtime crush.Timothy purchased a small property of Scottish land in Fiona’s name, giving her the name Lady Fiona.The Cincinnati Caledonian Pipes and Drums Band helped in the celebration with song and dance.**RELATED VIDEO ABOVE: Fiona receives birthday surprises from Timothy the hippo, her biggest admirer**Earlier in the week, the world's most famous hippo duo became a trio.There's a brand new hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo's Hippo Cove. Tucker, an 18-year-old Nile hippopotamus, arrived in Cincinnati on Monday from the San Francisco Zoo.Tucker will be the new boyfriend of 22-year-old Bibi the hippo.Bibi and Tucker will take things slowly and spend time by the pool bonding and sharing beets, squash, melons and hay.Four-year-old Fiona will join Bibi and Tucker as soon as the couple demonstrates that they are comfortable with each other, zoo officials said.The hippo care team said they are aware that Fiona fans travel from all over the world to see her, so they will do everything possible to maximize her outdoor time during the introduction period.On Thursday, Timothy the hippo down in San Antonio posted on Facebook welcoming Tucker to Cincinnati."I’m probably the biggest Fiona fan in the world…I’m assuming you’ve already met her. She’s the best, right?!?" the Facebook post said.Timothy said he wanted to introduce himself and wished Tucker the best of luck on his adventure in Cincinnati."I hope you and Bibi get along well. All of us hippos deserve to find that special someone to share snacks with!" the Facebook post stated. "Please take extra special care of Fiona for me - she’s a treasure that needs to be protected!"Will Timothy be joining Fiona in Cincinnati one day? The answer is still unclear. What ultimately will decide Fiona's potential future romance? It may not be cute love notes."The genetics are basically what's going to matter most," Rice said. "If and when Fiona were to get a breeding recommendation someday, it would be based entirely on who was genetically the best match for her — that may or may not be Timothy."Fiona's genes are valuable in the world of Nile hippopotamuses. And eventually, Rice said the goal is to have Fiona breed if she can. But we're talking way down the road, when Fiona is at least 5 years old.What happens then?"We obviously don't want her going anywhere," Rice said. "We love her. She's our baby and this hometown loves her. We're fairly certain people would riot if we said Fiona was leaving. We're hopeful that if she gets a breeding recommendation, that a male would be brought here for her so she wouldn't have to leave Cincinnati."
Timothy the hippo, otherwise known as Fiona's biggest admirer, welcomed the Cincinnati Zoo's new hippo, Tucker, to Cincinnati this week.
Timothy lives more than 1,100 miles away at the San Antonio Zoo, but he's been madly in love with Fiona for years now.
In fact, Timothy is known for writing Fiona love letters on the San Antonio Zoo's Facebook page and sending her charming gifts on her birthday and Valentine's Day. For her birthday last year, Timothy gifted Fiona an Edible Arrangement.
This year for Valentine's Day, Timothy stepped up his game and went the extra mile — or 3,000 extra miles to be more exact — to give an extra special gift to his longtime crush.
Timothy purchased a small property of Scottish land in Fiona’s name, giving her the name Lady Fiona.
The Cincinnati Caledonian Pipes and Drums Band helped in the celebration with song and dance.
**RELATED VIDEO ABOVE: Fiona receives birthday surprises from Timothy the hippo, her biggest admirer**
Earlier in the week, the world's most famous hippo duo became a trio.
There's a brand new hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo's Hippo Cove. Tucker, an 18-year-old Nile hippopotamus, arrived in Cincinnati on Monday from the San Francisco Zoo.
Tucker will be the new boyfriend of 22-year-old Bibi the hippo.
Bibi and Tucker will take things slowly and spend time by the pool bonding and sharing beets, squash, melons and hay.
Four-year-old Fiona will join Bibi and Tucker as soon as the couple demonstrates that they are comfortable with each other, zoo officials said.
The hippo care team said they are aware that Fiona fans travel from all over the world to see her, so they will do everything possible to maximize her outdoor time during the introduction period.
On Thursday, Timothy the hippo down in San Antonio posted on Facebook welcoming Tucker to Cincinnati.
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"I’m probably the biggest Fiona fan in the world…I’m assuming you’ve already met her. She’s the best, right?!?" the Facebook post said.
Timothy said he wanted to introduce himself and wished Tucker the best of luck on his adventure in Cincinnati.
"I hope you and Bibi get along well. All of us hippos deserve to find that special someone to share snacks with!" the Facebook post stated. "Please take extra special care of Fiona for me - she’s a treasure that needs to be protected!"
Will Timothy be joining Fiona in Cincinnati one day? The answer is still unclear. What ultimately will decide Fiona's potential future romance? It may not be cute love notes.
"The genetics are basically what's going to matter most," Rice said. "If and when Fiona were to get a breeding recommendation someday, it would be based entirely on who was genetically the best match for her — that may or may not be Timothy."
Fiona's genes are valuable in the world of Nile hippopotamuses. And eventually, Rice said the goal is to have Fiona breed if she can. But we're talking way down the road, when Fiona is at least 5 years old.
What happens then?
"We obviously don't want her going anywhere," Rice said. "We love her. She's our baby and this hometown loves her. We're fairly certain people would riot if we said Fiona was leaving. We're hopeful that if she gets a breeding recommendation, that a male would be brought here for her so she wouldn't have to leave Cincinnati."
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