Tucker the hippo got his first chance to go nose-to-nose with Bibi and Fiona at the Cincinnati Zoo Wednesday.Tucker, an 18-year-old Nile hippopotamus, is the brand new hippo at the zoo. He arrived in Cincinnati on Sept. 6 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.It seems as that would be a problem, though. The Cincinnati Zoo provided an update on Sept. 8 saying Bibi and Fiona have been "very interested" in Tucker.On Wednesday, the care team opened a small window in the door so Tucker, Fiona and Bibi could touch and smell each other. All three hippos were very interested in each other, zoo officials said.In the video player above, you can hear the three hippos' loud sniffs during their first nose-to-nose interaction.The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Hippo Species Survival Plan recommended that Tucker move to Cincinnati to be Bibi’s companion and to enjoy being part of a hippo pod.If a baby is in their future, it will be down the road, zoo officials said.“Male hippos are typically larger than females, and that is true in this case. Tucker weighs about 4,500 pounds, which is 1000 more than Bibi. They both eclipse Fiona, who has not yet reached the 2,000-pound milestone,” said Cincinnati Zoo’s director of animal care, Christina Gorsuch. “Another thing that’s different about males is the way they poop. They spin their tails like a propeller and spray feces everywhere. It’s actually entertaining to watch but creates a big mess for keepers to take care of in the hippo barn.”According to Tucker’s keepers at the San Francisco Zoo, guests liked watching him in his pool, playing with enrichment items and snacking on his favorite foods — melons, beets, squash, hay and grain. Those prized items will all be included in his diet in Cincinnati.A date for Tucker’s public debut has not yet been set.The new hippo was named Tucker when he was born but was known to San Francisco Zoo visitors as "Bruce" — a tribute to San Francisco Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy.“We will call him Tucker, since his San Francisco nickname wouldn’t have the same meaning in Cincinnati as it did in the Giants’ hometown,” said Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard. “Besides, we have our own baseball connection here. Tucker will join Cincinnati Reds’ catcher Tucker Barnhart at the top of the most popular Cincinnati Tuckers’ list. Barnhart even sent the new hippo a welcome message!”While not considered endangered, Nile hippos share ecosystems with many critically endangered species including elephants and rhinos.As an indicator species, the hippos’ plight can provide information about the challenges being faced by other species in their native lands. Addressing issues at the ecosystem level helps all of the other species living in the same regions, zoo officials say.The Cincinnati Zoo is hosting a special where one lucky winner will get to meet Fiona, Bibi and Tucker in a behind-the-scenes experience.The public can enter the giveaway for only $5.A winner will receive an Ultimate Happy Happy Hippos Getaway including a two-night hotel stay at the Cincinnati Zoo’s official hotel, the Graduate Cincinnati, a $50 gift card to Fiona’s bar & grill located in the Graduate Hotel, five tickets to the Cincinnati Zoo and a hippo behind the scenes tour for 5 people to meet all three of the zoo's hippos, Bibi, Fiona and Tucker.Four winners will win a limited-edition Fiona Kiss Print.A $5 hippo A.D.O.P.T. gets you one entry. A $20 hippo A.D.O.P.T. gets you five entries. A.D.O.P.T. the hippos begins on Friday and runs through Sept. 30.All funds raised will go to provide vital funds for the Cincinnati Zoo's daily operations.Click here to enter.
Tucker the hippo got his first chance to go nose-to-nose with Bibi and Fiona at the Cincinnati Zoo Wednesday.
Tucker, an 18-year-old Nile hippopotamus, is the brand new hippo at the zoo. He arrived in Cincinnati on Sept. 6 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.
It seems as that would be a problem, though. The Cincinnati Zoo provided an update on Sept. 8 saying Bibi and Fiona have been "very interested" in Tucker.
On Wednesday, the care team opened a small window in the door so Tucker, Fiona and Bibi could touch and smell each other. All three hippos were very interested in each other, zoo officials said.
In the video player above, you can hear the three hippos' loud sniffs during their first nose-to-nose interaction.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Hippo Species Survival Plan recommended that Tucker move to Cincinnati to be Bibi’s companion and to enjoy being part of a hippo pod.
If a baby is in their future, it will be down the road, zoo officials said.
“Male hippos are typically larger than females, and that is true in this case. Tucker weighs about 4,500 pounds, which is 1000 more than Bibi. They both eclipse Fiona, who has not yet reached the 2,000-pound milestone,” said Cincinnati Zoo’s director of animal care, Christina Gorsuch. “Another thing that’s different about males is the way they poop. They spin their tails like a propeller and spray feces everywhere. It’s actually entertaining to watch but creates a big mess for keepers to take care of in the hippo barn.”
According to Tucker’s keepers at the San Francisco Zoo, guests liked watching him in his pool, playing with enrichment items and snacking on his favorite foods — melons, beets, squash, hay and grain. Those prized items will all be included in his diet in Cincinnati.
A date for Tucker’s public debut has not yet been set.
The new hippo was named Tucker when he was born but was known to San Francisco Zoo visitors as "Bruce" — a tribute to San Francisco Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy.
“We will call him Tucker, since his San Francisco nickname wouldn’t have the same meaning in Cincinnati as it did in the Giants’ hometown,” said Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard. “Besides, we have our own baseball connection here. Tucker will join Cincinnati Reds’ catcher Tucker Barnhart at the top of the most popular Cincinnati Tuckers’ list. Barnhart even sent the new hippo a welcome message!”
While not considered endangered, Nile hippos share ecosystems with many critically endangered species including elephants and rhinos.
As an indicator species, the hippos’ plight can provide information about the challenges being faced by other species in their native lands. Addressing issues at the ecosystem level helps all of the other species living in the same regions, zoo officials say.
The Cincinnati Zoo is hosting a special where one lucky winner will get to meet Fiona, Bibi and Tucker in a behind-the-scenes experience.
The public can enter the giveaway for only $5.
A winner will receive an Ultimate Happy Happy Hippos Getaway including a two-night hotel stay at the Cincinnati Zoo’s official hotel, the Graduate Cincinnati, a $50 gift card to Fiona’s bar & grill located in the Graduate Hotel, five tickets to the Cincinnati Zoo and a hippo behind the scenes tour for 5 people to meet all three of the zoo's hippos, Bibi, Fiona and Tucker.
Four winners will win a limited-edition Fiona Kiss Print.
A $5 hippo A.D.O.P.T. gets you one entry. A $20 hippo A.D.O.P.T. gets you five entries. A.D.O.P.T. the hippos begins on Friday and runs through Sept. 30.
All funds raised will go to provide vital funds for the Cincinnati Zoo's daily operations.
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