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Hippo Fiona 'Swimming' Along Nicely

The Cincinnati Zoo says Fiona was up to 54 pounds as of Feb. 22.
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
The Cincinnati Zoo says Fiona was up to 54 pounds as of Feb. 22.

A month-old hippo born premature is clear to return to her pool. The Cincinnati Zoo says Fiona's IV has been removed and "vets have given her the okay to resume supervised pool time."Fiona was born January 24, arriving six weeks early. She has been under near constant care since. That included help last week from a team from Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Doctors inserted an IV to provide fluids to the dehydrated Nile hippo calf.

In an update Friday the Zoo writes:

One-month-old Fiona has outgrown two pools already! Now that her IV has been removed, vets have given her the okay to resume supervised pool time.  Hippos don’t actually swim.  They float and are able to hold their breath for long periods. Spending time in the pool will help Fiona build muscle and lung strength, keep her skin moist and let her act like a hippo! Her new pool is set up close to mom and dad so she can hear and smell them.

https://youtu.be/mp0v8UTgR2M

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Tana Weingartner earned a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Cincinnati and a master's degree in mass communication from Miami University. Most recently, she served as news and public affairs producer with WMUB-FM. Ms. Weingartner has earned numerous awards for her reporting, including several Best Reporter awards from the Associated Press and the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and a regional Murrow Award. She served on the Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters Board of Directors from 2007 - 2009.
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