Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Cincinnati Zoo Hippos

RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe said:
I agree with you on the estimated age for departure. I hope that they can get a bigger exhibit soon, since within three years, Bibi and Fiona could both have calves, meaning that they would have six hippos in a crowded exhibit.
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It's not known whether Fiona can have calves yet or not; due to her short size and her being already six years old, it's probably unlikely.

Also, Fritz will be gone before Bibi is allowed to conceive again (if she is) as we know Fritz was an accidental pregnancy.
 
ZooElephantsMan said:
The zoo recently posted a YouTube video, in which they address concerns about the rate at which they are introducing their hippos to each other.

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Just ran across this on my YT feed. Definitely a good deal of anthropomorphizing going on, and seems to be some distinct aggression from Bibi towards Fiona still as would be expected. Bibi does not appear particularly tolerant of Fiona's presence while not going all out aggressive (in the clips at least). I also dislike the statement of "we're working to do what's best for our bloat which currently is getting the four hippos back together." Given the natural ecology of the hippo and general captive husbandry practices they're kind of forcing things with their current approach.
 
ZooElephantsMan said:
The zoo recently posted a YouTube video, in which they address concerns about the rate at which they are introducing their hippos to each other.

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Great Argus said:
Just ran across this on my YT feed. Definitely a good deal of anthropomorphizing going on, and seems to be some distinct aggression from Bibi towards Fiona still as would be expected. Bibi does not appear particularly tolerant of Fiona's presence while not going all out aggressive (in the clips at least). I also dislike the statement of "we're working to do what's best for our bloat which currently is getting the four hippos back together." Given the natural ecology of the hippo and general captive husbandry practices they're kind of forcing things with their current approach.
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While they’re certainly keen to capitalise on Fiona’s popularity through the anthropomorphic concept of a nuclear future, I believe the comments regarding what’s best for the hippos is referring to an integrated pod having more outdoor time (as opposed to split pods rotating use of the outdoor pool).

The size of this exhibit is comparable to Auckland Zoo’s exhibit (1982-2009) that initially held one adult bull and four adult cows (with no capacity to seperate them). The majority of calves born were killed as neonates by the other adults; but those that survived the first month soon integrated into the pod without further aggression.

While I’m not advocating a sink or swim approach at Cincinnati (and would prefer to see best practice guidelines followed), my expectation is that we’ll only see improvement from here, with Bibi relaxing more and more as Fiona is demonstrates she’s not a threat to Fritz.
 
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Zoofan15 said:
While they’re certainly keen to capitalise on Fiona’s popularity through the anthropomorphic concept of a nuclear future, I believe the comments regarding what’s best for the hippos is referring to an integrated pod having more outdoor time (as opposed to split pods rotating use of the outdoor pool).

The size of this exhibit is comparable to Auckland Zoo’s exhibit (1982-2009) that initially held one adult bull and four adult cows (with no capacity to seperate them). The majority of calves born were killed as neonates by the other adults; but those that survived the first month soon integrated into the pod without further aggression.

While I’m not advocating a sink or swim approach at Cincinnati (and would prefer to see best practice guidelines followed), my expectation is that we’ll only see improvement from here, with Bibi relaxing more and more as Fiona is demonstrates she’s not a threat to Fritz.
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That approach would be a nightmare for any zoo in this day and age, particularly one like Cincinnati that's basically hitched every wagon it has to anthropormorphizing baby hippos. They'd get pounded by animal rights activists and the patrons they nurture as social media hippo superfans simultaneously.

This is the kind of quandary an institution finds itself in when it's intellectually dishonest about it's poor decision making when it comes to it's flagship species.
 
Great Argus said:
Well they don't want to phrase it as aggression because it ruins their anthropomorphized picture. Bibi is clearly very intolerant of Fiona and I feel Cincy is really pulling some risks here...
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Who do you think is more at risk-- Fiona or Fritz? It's interesting, because most would assume that being smaller and helpless, Fritz would be the one at risk. But from the looks of this video, Fiona is the one put in the scary position.
 
ZooElephantsMan said:
Who do you think is more at risk-- Fiona or Fritz? It's interesting, because most would assume that being smaller and helpless, Fritz would be the one at risk. But from the looks of this video, Fiona is the one put in the scary position.
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Potentially both are at risk. If Bibi perceives Fiona as a threat, her displays may esvulate to physical altercations. While I'm not suggesting they're at this point, female hippos have fatally injured other adults in captivity.

Fritz is at risk as any aggressive display has the potential for Bibi to accidentally crush him. For this reason, I believe the introductions shouldn't be rushed in the way they have been.
 
ZooElephantsMan said:
Who do you think is more at risk-- Fiona or Fritz? It's interesting, because most would assume that being smaller and helpless, Fritz would be the one at risk. But from the looks of this video, Fiona is the one put in the scary position.
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Fiona - Bibi is known to be aggressive and is much larger than Fiona. Note that Fiona is running from Bibi and not even attempting to hold her ground at all, she's just trying to get away and keep as much space as possible.
 
Zoofan15 said:
While I'm not suggesting they're at this point, female hippos have fatally injured other adults in captivity.
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Worth noting that while Cincy recently addressed the scratch on Fiona's side, we were not told what happened. I've a hunch Bibi clipped her or Fiona collided with something trying to get away from Bibi...
 
Maybe it's about time Fiona is sent to a new facility, or she could just move back with Tucker, since they seemed to get along well.
 
Haley said:
Maybe it's about time Fiona is sent to a new facility, or she could just move back with Tucker, since they seemed to get along well.
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If they had followed best practice guidelines which advise the isolation of the mother and newborn for several months, then I have no doubt a full integration could be achieved. Many zoos have managed to achieve this.

Tucker and Fiona were living cohesively, so they should have left them together for the time being imo.

Tucker has to be seperate for the time being anyway i.e. they still have two groups.
 
Great Argus said:
By all appearances Fiona should be kept separately from Bibi, back with Tucker. Problem is Cincy lacks proper space to house 4 hippos and has fed expectations with anthropomorphizing the herd.
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I agree, but I think I'd err with the compromised space of separation before taking my chances with a potentially intolerant Bibi. Neither option is good, but temporary substandard housing is probably preferable to an acute violent disaster.

Frankly, I'd ship Tucker out. He takes up the most space and isn't necessarily needed any longer. He really never was. There's zero reason for the zoo to maintain a pair of breeding adults at this point. It's a continued recipe for poorly housed animals and social discontent among the pod.

The only conceivable way I'd keep him is if there were a plan for a larger enclosure in the near future, and there most certainly is not. Does having a bigger number of hippos make it a better zoo? No. Is it beneficial for the animals in the current situation? Also no. They had two hippos in that enclosure ever since Henry passed and people still came out to see them.
 
Persephone said:
I get that Cinci is largely doing this based off of PR, but like. They have to understand the PR hit they would take if they got Fiona killed. That’s the kind of thing they might never recover from. Shocked they aren’t doing more based on that if nothing else.
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Fiona or Fritz at this point. As has been pointed out there is a very real possibility of Fritz getting injured or killed as Bibi charges around chasing Fiona. Either way the death of either would be disastrous in terms of PR, especially if it happened during public hours.

TinoPup said:
They could just *not post* these videos, but that seems to be beyond their PR team.
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Yeah, though too I'm noticing several instances in the videos where it cuts to a different clip right as I'm expecting to see direct aggressive behavior. They're trying to limit it/play it off it seems, but they're really gambling I think...
 
Great Argus said:
Fiona or Fritz at this point. As has been pointed out there is a very real possibility of Fritz getting injured or killed as Bibi charges around chasing Fiona. Either way the death of either would be disastrous in terms of PR, especially if it happened during public hours.



Yeah, though too I'm noticing several instances in the videos where it cuts to a different clip right as I'm expecting to see direct aggressive behavior. They're trying to limit it/play it off it seems, but they're really gambling I think...
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I haven't watched any of the recent clips, it's too stressful knowing what the behaviors really are.
 
Another point to consider is that the relationship between Tucker and Fiona may have broken down.

Despite her age, Fiona is at the development level of a two year old (half grown) cow and from videos, it was very clear the attitude she was giving Tucker was under the confidence of Bibi's protection. That's now removed and Tucker will be less tolerant of her.

If this is the case, management of the hippopotami across three groups is the solution, but one that's unfeasible given the capacity of the zoo's facilities.
 
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