CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Zoo’s famed hippo Fiona is about to become a big sister after the zoo announced one of its hippos is pregnant.
The zoo announced Bibi’s pregnancy Monday morning after dropping pregnancy hints Sunday on its social media channels.
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“The hippo team is excited and also nervous,” said Eric Byrd, manager of Cincinnati Zoo’s Africa team. “As most people know, Bibi’s first baby, Fiona, was born six weeks premature and wouldn’t have survived without the intervention of her human caregivers. We are hoping for a full-term pregnancy and will be doing everything we can to support Bibi.”
The reproductive physiologists at the zoo will be helping Bibi with hormone supplements and also will do regular ultrasounds to monitor the growth and health of the fetus.
18-year-old hippo Tucker was brought to the Hippo Cove in September after being recommended as a breeding pair with Bibi by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan Program.
“We weren’t planning to welcome a baby this soon, but nature found a way and ignored our calendar,” said Cincinnati Zoo’s director of animal care, Christina Gorsuch. “Most forms of contraception, in hippos or humans, is not 100% reliable. The dose that was previously effective for Bibi did not prevent pregnancy this time.”
It will be months before the zoos would welcome the new baby hippo.