Does a zoo need hippos?

[IndianRhino]

Relatively off-topic but does anyone know of a zoo that keeps a large group of common hippo's rather than just the usual 2/3?

I'm pretty sure there are several in Europe that do. However in North America there are very few. Disney's Animal Kingdom keeps 10+, while Cheyenne Mountain and Memphis both keep 4 (a male, two adult females, and a calf).

 

[ZCChip]

So are spot and Sonia still alive?

 

[Strix]

So are spot and Sonia still alive?

Yes

 

[Haliaeetus]

I'm pretty sure there are several in Europe that do. However in North America there are very few. Disney's Animal Kingdom keeps 10+, while Cheyenne Mountain and Memphis both keep 4 (a male, two adult females, and a calf).

Large groups of Hippos are rare in European zoos too. Usually there are no more than 3/4 adults (there may be exceptions but I don't know currently).
Probably because they are very dangerous animals.

 

[ZCChip]

Yes

Wow. Thanks.

 

[Tiger]

Zoo Kobenhavn (Copenhagen Zoo) has a large group of hippos of 6 animals, with the last birth in 2021. This is probably 1 of the largest (maybe the largest) hippo group in Europe, but it still can't compete with the large American groups like at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

 

[aardvark250]

Do Cabarceno really only have 1.2 hippos? That place is massive! Surely not. They could fit like 12 in there and it's still got space left.

 

[Simon Harding]

I did some digging and learned that Spot and Sonia, both females, were born in Uganda in 1974 and arrived at Longleat in 1976!

This may not be a surprise to anyone else but me, but I read that they were housed at one point (if not currently) with sea lions, the young of which would sometimes land on the hippo's backs! I had to see this very unusual combination for myself to believe it: Hippo & Sealion

Thank you for introducing me to these fascinating individuals!

I have often seen the Sea lions on Spot & Sonia’s back!.
The Sea Lions are incredibly mischievous, especially when young, & really take liberties with the Hippos.
I really don’t understand how any health checks or veterinary care can be given to the Hippos, so I really would love to know if they have been left “wild” in a lake in Wiltshire, the heart of the English countryside!?!.
Thank you for your help in finding their ages.

 

[Ebirah766]

Reading this thread was a wild ride...

Personally I believe that both hippo species are great, and that any zoo that's worth anything should have both species. Unfortunately that's not too common, which is why a lot of zoos disappoint me when it comes to our river horse friends.

 

[Mr.Ivory]

Do Cabarceno really only have 1.2 hippos? That place is massive! Surely not. They could fit like 12 in there and it's still got space left.

They could house 14+ animals, a breeding bull, several breeding females, calves, and a small bachelor herd

 

[Jana]

Relatively off-topic but does anyone know of a zoo that keeps a large group of common hippo's rather than just the usual 2/3?

Dvur Kralove keeps 6 of them - a bull, two cows and 3 calves of different ages.

 

[Antimony96]

I hope they do not plan on including any sort of disco themed scenery unlike the last aquarium to exhibit hippos.

If it makes you feel any better, Adventure Aquarium no longer has the baffling disco theming for their hippo exhibit.

 

[Westcoastperson]

If it makes you feel any better, Adventure Aquarium no longer has the baffling disco theming for their hippo exhibit.

That's better but there are still other issues with that exhibit.

 

[Antimony96]

That's better but there are still other issues with that exhibit.

Agreed, principally due to the relative lack of space, and a disappointing part of an aquarium that I otherwise enjoyed. Aquarium buildings generally aren't good for large land animals, though I've seen worse than the Camden hippos (the infamous jaguar enclosure in the Dallas World Aquarium, for instance)