CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Zoo added another member to its family of hippos.
Mom hippo, Bibi, gave birth around 10 p.m. Wednesday, officials said.
“This calf looks huge to us because Fiona, Bibi’s first baby, only weighed 29 pounds when she was born six weeks premature and wasn’t able to stand on her own. This new calf weighs at least twice as much as Fiona did and is already walking,” said Christina Gorsuch, Cincinnati Zoo’s director of animal care.
Bibi is also the mother of the world-renowned Fiona, meaning she is now a big sister.
Zoo caretakers noticed Bibi acting differently on Aug. 2 and began showing signs of labor.
“Bibi and the baby, yet to be named, will spend the next two weeks bonding behind the scenes,” said Gorsuch. “A female would take her newborn away from the bloat for about that amount of time in the wild, and we try to give Bibi the choice to do what feels natural to her.”
Bibi and the baby won't be in public view right away, but the zoo said it will share photos and videos when it can without disturbing them. The father, Tucker, and Fiona will continue to appear in the outdoor habitat except during introduction times.
The zoo announced Bibi's pregnancy in April. Zookeepers will probably separate the father, Tucker, from Bibi during the birth and for about two weeks after. In the wild, female hippos leave the group a few days before birth and return with the calf 10-14 days later, according to the zoo.