Fiona makes media splash

Cincinnati zoo works to prepare baby hippo for public display

By Associated Press

Published: June 9, 2017, 6:00am

Fiona made her debut to the media May 31 in Hippo Cove at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden in Cincinnati. Liz Dufour/The Cincinnati Enquirer

CINCINNATI (AP) — A popular baby hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden has made its news media debut.

Fiona made her media debut May 31 with cameras rolling as she navigated the 9-foot-deep Hippo Cove pool.

The zoo emphasizes she isn’t ready for public display but the media-only event was a step toward that.

Fiona was born Jan. 24, weighing 29 pounds. She overcame health scares and now weighs more than 100 pounds.

Online star

Video updates such as Fiona taking a bottle, splashing in a pool or learning to run have drawn tens of millions of online views.

Thousands of people have bought TeamFiona T-shirts and have eaten Fiona-themed bakery treats.

A brewery plans to introduce a beer dedicated to her.

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