A Premature Baby Hippo Enjoys a Yummy Bottle of Milk While Sitting in Warm Bath

A sweet baby hippo named Fiona enjoyed a yummy bottle of milk while sitting in a warm bath at the Cincinnati Zoo . Fiona was born six-weeks premature to mom Bibi and is being given 24-hour care in order to make sure that she is strong enough to rejoin her mother. Fiona appears to be catching on very quickly however as she’s learning to stand, swim and even blow bubbles.

The calf arrived six weeks earlier than her expected March due date and has been receiving critical care from Zoo staff since vets determined that she was too weak to stand to nurse from mom, seventeen-year-old Bibi. She is being cared for in close proximity to mom and dad, Henry, so they can hear and smell each other. She still has a long way to go before she’ll be strong enough to be reunited with her mom …She needs to learn how to nurse on her own, walk, swim and get a lot bigger.

A photo posted by Cincinnati Zoo (@cincinnatizoo) on

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.