This Thursday, famous baby hippo Fiona officially entered her terrible twos. The adorable hippo, who was born prematurely and almost didn’t make it beyond a few weeks, celebrated her birthday in high spirits. She was born January 24, 2017, and weighed one-fifth of what a normal hippo should weigh at birth.
Fiona is a celebrity at the Cincinnati Zoo. “Fiona is remarkable for being unremarkable now,” said Curator of Mammals Christina Gorsuch. Fiona is just like any other 2-year-old hippo, aside from her viral fame. Fiona was given a special cake, but it was too cold for her to come outside. When she was born, Fiona weighed only 29 pounds—about 25 pounds lighter than the lowest recorded birth weight for her species. Still, she persevered. What a hip-prise!
Fiona has become an ambassador for hippos everywhere. Her survival was largely aided by her animal care team’s tireless efforts to save her life. Happy birthday, Fiona!