When Fiona was born, she came into this world six weeks premature. She required around-the-clock intensive care at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Zoo vets and animal care staff took responsibility of feeding and cuddling the underweight baby. Her mother, Bibi, patiently stood still for ultrasounds and allowed milk to be collected for her newborn baby.
Vets added mama's milk to a fluid that was tube-fed to the baby. The tiny hippo struggled to eat and gain weight.
So vets had to give her constant tube-feedings while keeping her warm and moist.
When she began to gain weight, she grew in strength and could soon stand for a few seconds at a time. It took her several weeks, but eventually she got the hang of drinking from a bottle and 'swimming' in the water with her special pool noodles!
See Fiona now, turn the next page!
Fiona grew stronger and stronger with all the TLC showered upon her by The Cincinnati Zoo's staff. Adult hippos grow to about 3,000 pounds, but at three months, Fiona weighed only 68 pounds!
After several months of careful monitoring and lots of therapy, Fiona was ready to meet her parents! Henry the Hippo joined his lady, Bibi, and their baby Fiona for their first family swim. The family finally came together in the Zoo's Hippo Cove outdoor pool.
Now Fiona is six months old and she's tipping the scales at 404 lbs! Grow baby, grow! For her half birthday, little Fiona got her very own birthday song and music video.
Chris Rowlands sings a super sweet song about all the progress that this sweet baby has made. Watch her splash and play in her half-birthday video below:
Happy half-birthday Fiona! Can't wait to see what you do next!
[h/t Cincinnati Zoo]
