World Hippo Day is February 15.
ADOBE STOCK
Hippo Havens
Zoos make fun outings, and they’re even more entertaining when hippos are part of the animal mix. Celebrate them on February 15, World Hippo Day!
By Amity Moore Joyce
On a wintry day at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colorado, steam rises from a large pond rimmed in snow. Boulders and trees, although barren in the season, lend the scene a natural look, re-creating how an African river might look in the wild. But it’s too cold for the water feature’s inhabitants to be outside. Today, four of Africa’s most notorious creatures are inside their “barn,” wading in the warm indoor pool and chuffing at each other—just enjoying another day of being a hippopotamus.
Nile hippopotamuses, aka common hippopotamus, are not easy to keep, which is why less than 15% of the 213 Association of Zoos & Aquariums-accredited facilities in the United States have them—and why it is a novelty to see them in a zoo. They require expansive habitats with a variety of elements, including water since they are a semi-aquatic species. They are territorial, particularly around their water source, so they have a reputation for being one of Africa’s most dangerous animals. Finally, they are social beasts, so it’s important for zoos to be able to maintain multiple hippos.
Omo at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s herd includes Biko, a male who has mated with Zambezi and produced Omo, a male born in 2021 who shadows his mother from water to land and back again, and Kasai, who is Zambezi’s sister. During a daily Meet the Hippos talk, they are active and entertaining, giving the zookeeper plenty to explain and share about the species.
From the noises they make to the flicking of their ears to their antics in and out of the water, hippos are fascinating to watch. They are giant, with adults weighing between 3,000 and 9,920, and their teeth are nothing to mess with. The tusks in the front of their mouths are their first line of defense, and they have a full set of teeth—about as many as humans—that follow.
Another of the top zoos for common hippo viewing is Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. Not only can AAA Members secure deals on tickets, but the facility is one of the few in the country with underwater viewing. This unique opportunity allows visitors to see what hippos are doing below the water, where they spend more than 65% of their time. It’s here that they breed, give birth, nap and play.
Other zoos with notable Nile hippo exhibits that feature underwater viewing include the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee; the Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio; the Dallas Zoo in Texas; the San Antonio Zoo in Texas; and the San Diego Zoo in California. Like Colorado’s Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, many of these zoos offer special hippo encounters for an extra fee. Hippos generally don’t like to be touched, so you’re not petting them during add-on adventures, but you can go behind the scenes or view them privately in a small group.
The Philadelphia Zoo in Philadelphia, for example, offers a behind-the-scenes encounter that allows participants to feed its river hippos. The chubby giants have grand appetites, so snacks of fruits and vegetables are part of their daily regimen. When they open their mouths, it’s easy to toss lettuce or part of a melon into that wide, toothy basket.
In Florida, guests paying a bit extra can enjoy exclusive access to the Kiboko Station Hippo habitat at the Gulf Breeze Zoo. In addition to feeding the hippos, hippo lovers learn about the two Nile hippos as animal care specialists talk about the pair’s distinctive behaviors, daily routines, care, training and food.
Be sure to get your tickets from AAA when visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Cincinnati Zoo, the San Antonio Zoo, the San Diego Zoo and ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Click here for tickets!
If you do get within 5 or 6 feet of a hippo, beware! One of the most entertaining—and icky—hippo behaviors comes from the males. If one turns his rear end and starts to flick his tail, move away from what could turn into a “muck shower.” It’s exactly what it sounds like: a combination of pee, poop and hormones that lets the ladies know, “Hey, baby, I’m here!” The quick circle-like spin of his tail spreads his scent all over, a sticky proposition for anyone standing within the spray zone.
San Antonio Zoo’s Hippo Poop-Scented Love Candle
SAN ANTONIO ZOO
The San Antonio Zoo has captured this symbol—and cologne—of love in a Hippo Poop-Scented Love Candle. Find it for sale online or in the zoo’s gift shop. "We have something truly unique—our hippo poop-scented candle that is guaranteed to ignite a spark in your loved one's heart, and yes, it really smells like poop,” said Tim Morrow, president and CEO of San Antonio Zoo, in a press release. “These fun campaigns not only bring joy and laughter, but also play a vital role in raising funds to support San Antonio Zoo’s vision of securing a future for wildlife, not only in Texas but across the globe.”
While river hippos are the most commonly known hippo, there’s another kind of hippo that has been garnering a lot of attention lately. The pygmy hippo owes its bump in popularity to Poppy, a pygmy hippo born at the Metro Richmond Zoo in Virginia. Born a few weeks before Christmas 2024, those visitors singing “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas” got their wish. Thanks to social media, the public has fallen in love with the tiny youngster and her mother, Iris. Because people haven’t been able to get enough of her, the zoo has now installed a live cam so Poppy followers can get their pygmy hippo fix.
Pygmy hippos look like common hippos, just in miniature. In the wild, they don’t share the same habitat, however. Nile hippos live along the rivers and lakes of sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 75% of their populations in eastern Africa, notably in Zambia and Tanzania. Pygmy hippos, meanwhile, live in West Africa, largely in the swampy forests of Liberia, with fewer numbers also seen in Cote D’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Guinea. While they do like water, they spend more time on land than their larger relatives. They also are different in that they prefer to live alone or in pairs, rather than a “bloat,” or group of hippos.
Don’t live near Richmond? No problem! Florida’s ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Michigan’s John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Nebraska’s Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha and many others throughout the country have them as part of their efforts to conserve this endangered species.
Whether you go big or small, hippo exhibits promise to entertain and educate about these unusual African creatures.
Click here for AAA Savings!
