Before Moo Deng, there was Fiona. How the baby hippo took the internet by storm in 2017
Updated: 10:00 AM PDT Sep 19, 2024
THERE ARE CERTAIN ROUTES LIKE I TYPICALLY I HAVE FRIENDS IN HOUSTON AND I TYPICALLY GO THERE AND THAT ROUTE IS ALWAYS PRETTY CHEAP. BUT I DID NOTE THIS WITH OTHER THINGS THAT THERE’S A LITTLE BIT OF A PRICE CUT. AND I KNOW WE JUST HAD THAT DAY, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE DAY TO BUY YOUR AIR TRAVEL AT A DISCOUNT OR SOMETHING. SO YEAH, THINGS ARE DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. I WOULD SAY THINGS ARE PRETTY GOOD LOOKING. I’M READY FOR PRICES TO JUST BECOME MORE MANAGEABLE ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT JUST FLYING AT THE GROCERY STORE, YOU NAME IT. YEAH, I MEAN, EATING OUT. IT’S ALL, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT IT A LOT OF TIMES, I, I DON’T KNOW HOW SO MANY FAMILIES ARE DOING IT RIGHT NOW. WHEN YOU ARE ON A FIXED INCOME AND IT FEELS LIKE EVERYTHING IS JUST SO EXPENSIVE, AND EVEN IN OUR HOUSE WE’VE TALKED ABOUT, ARE WE GOING TO GO ON THAT SPRING BREAK SUMMER TRIP? AND WE’VE KIND OF SAID TO THE KIDS, WE’RE PROBABLY GOING TO DRIVE BECAUSE TO SEND ALL OF US, THERE IS JUST A LOT OF MONEY. I WILL SAY SOMETHING THAT’S HELPED ME IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO IS USING THOSE AIRLINE PERKS FOR YOUR ADVANTAGE. SO EVEN WHEN IT’S NOT LIKE A TIME WHERE PEAK TRAVEL OR THE TRAVEL IS CHEAPER, OR YOU CAN ALWAYS USE THOSE PERKS BY USING THE POINT SYSTEM. BASICALLY TO YOUR ADVANTAGE TO MAKE IT CHEAPER FOR YOURSELF. SO YEAH, THERE YOU HAVE IT. ALL RIGHT, WELL, ANOTHER NEWS. CINCINNATI’S MOST FAMOUS CELEBRITY WILL CELEBRATE HER SEVENTH BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK. WE’RE TALKING, OF COURSE, ABOUT FIONA THE HIPPO. THAT’S RIGHT. SO HER BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEDNESDAY. FIONA STORY, OF COURSE, CAPTURED THE WORLD’S ATTENTION EVER SINCE SHE WAS BORN AT SIX WEEKS OR SIX WEEKS PREMATURE. AT OUR CINCINNATI ZOO, SHE REQUIRED, OF COURSE, ROUND THE CLOCK CARE. SHE WAS SO CUTE THERE, WEIGHING ONLY 29 POUNDS, WHICH IS WELL BELOW THE NORMAL BIRTH WEIGHT. WELL, NOW ZOOKEEPERS SAY THAT HER HEALTH PROBLEMS, LONG BEHIND HER, AND SHE’S NOW WORKING ON GROWING HER CONFIDENCE, EVEN IF SHE’S NOT SO SURE ABOUT BUBBLES. WITH FRITZ COMING ALONG, FIONA SPENT LESS AND LESS TIME WITH HER MOM, BIBI, SO AS SHE SPENT LESS TIME WITH BIBI, SHE DID GAIN SOME CONFIDENCE. SO WE SEE HER MORE CONFIDENT WITH ENRICHMENT ITEMS. WITH TUCKER, SHE’S A LOT MORE CONFIDENT WITH TUCKER THAN SHE WAS WHEN HE FIRST CAME IN. SO SHE’S STILL GAINING CONFIDENCE. BUT BUBBLES STILL GET HER FOR WHATEVER REASON. I LIKE HOW THEY WORD THAT GAINING CONFIDENCE. IT FEELS LIKE MAYBE SHE’S JUST NOT A FAN, LIKE THERE’S A RIVALRY THERE. ALL RIGHT, SO WE’RE TOLD. LIKE ALWAYS THOUGH, FIONA WILL GET HER SPECIAL BIRTHDAY CAKE THIS WEEK. AND IF YOU’RE MAYBE HEADING TO THE ZOO ON WEDNESDAY TO CELEBRATE HER SEVENTH BIRTHDAY, YOU CAN ALSO ENJOY $7 TICKETS. WE’LL HAVE TO CHECK IN WITH ADAM TO SEE IF THE WEATHER IS GOING TO COOPERATE. WAIT FOR YOU. BUT IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SHE’S SEVEN ALREADY. I FEEL LIKE YOU KNOW SHE’S STILL JUST A BABY BECAUSE WE’VE TALKED ABOUT HER SO MUCH, BUT I GUESS IT MAKES SENSE. YEAH, SHE’S ON HER WAY TO, YOU KNOW, THOSE THE TEENAGE YEARS, THE DOUBLE DIGITS. I KNOW. SO THEN WE’RE GOING TO BE IN FOR A LOT OF TROUBLE. BUT IT’S SO FUNNY THAT FIONA’S BIRTHDAY FALLS ALWAYS IN THE DEAD OF WINTER. AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER, WHAT’S THE WEATHER GOING TO BE LIKE FOR FIONA’S BIRTHDAY?
Before Moo Deng, there was Fiona. How the baby hippo took the internet by storm in 2017
Updated: 10:00 AM PDT Sep 19, 2024
A viral hippo at a zoo in Thailand is taking the internet by storm.Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo from Thailand is rising to fame, with the attendance at the zoo where she lives now doubling on weekends. The internet frenzy over Moo Deng might feel familiar to those in Cincinnati and even around the world. That's because before Moo Deng, there was another viral baby hippo, who is still an icon to many people you come across, especially in the Queen City.Born six weeks premature on Jan. 24, 2017, Cincinnati Zoo's Fiona the hippo weighed only 29 pounds at birth — 25 pounds less than the lowest recorded birth weight for her species.Her birth and journey to health took the internet by storm, with many following her from her first year of life all the way up until now at 7 years old. Her story and sassy personality garnered her a huge fan base, with people making T-shirts and mugs with her picture on them.She has even been named "Best Cincinnatian" for the sixth time in the last seven years, with only Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow earning a win in 2023.Now, she's one of the most well-known animals not just in Cincinnati or the country but around the world, and is on the cusp of hippo adulthood.And if you're wondering whether Fiona still knows how well-loved she is, her care team has the perfect answer. "Fiona absolutely knows she’s still a star. She’s a ham. You’ll see her, when visitors come and they’re taking photos of her at the glass; I swear she’s putting on for the photos. She enjoys it. The same thing with our behind-the-scenes tours that we get to do. She’s always front and center for our tours; she knows she’s still a star, and that’s not changing any time soon," Tewes said.
A viral hippo at a zoo in Thailand is taking the internet by storm.
Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo from Thailand is rising to fame, with the attendance at the zoo where she lives now doubling on weekends.
The internet frenzy over Moo Deng might feel familiar to those in Cincinnati and even around the world. That's because before Moo Deng, there was another viral baby hippo, who is still an icon to many people you come across, especially in the Queen City.
Born six weeks premature on Jan. 24, 2017, Cincinnati Zoo's Fiona the hippo weighed only 29 pounds at birth — 25 pounds less than the lowest recorded birth weight for her species.
Her birth and journey to health took the internet by storm, with many following her from her first year of life all the way up until now at 7 years old.
Her story and sassy personality garnered her a huge fan base, with people making T-shirts and mugs with her picture on them.
She has even been named "Best Cincinnatian" for the sixth time in the last seven years, with only Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow earning a win in 2023.
Now, she's one of the most well-known animals not just in Cincinnati or the country but around the world, and is on the cusp of hippo adulthood.
And if you're wondering whether Fiona still knows how well-loved she is, her care team has the perfect answer.
"Fiona absolutely knows she’s still a star. She’s a ham. You’ll see her, when visitors come and they’re taking photos of her at the glass; I swear she’s putting on for the photos. She enjoys it. The same thing with our behind-the-scenes tours that we get to do. She’s always front and center for our tours; she knows she’s still a star, and that’s not changing any time soon," Tewes said.