No certainly not . It's amazing how many people believe it's real. When you pass these hippos you also hear the noise of them. There also used to be a fake death Wildebeest in the water but they removed that because it made people scary .
I think that the fake river hippos are a terrific idea, and one that perhaps more zoos should embrace. Also, in the book "What Zoos Can Do" there is mention of a future elephant exhibit that could be 3 hectares (7.5 acres) in size, and how far along is development? Where in the zoo would that habitat be built?
I don't really like fake animals in enclosures, some sculptures in and around a zoo are ok but I feel it detracts from the real thing - and might even lead to the question, what is the point of the real thing? - and is a bit tacky.
