Confession: I am completely smitten with a hippopotamus. She’s not just any hippopotamus. Her name is Fiona, and she was born five years ago today at the Cincinnati Zoo. She arrived six weeks prematurely, and weighed only 29 pounds — about half the normal size. The fragile preemie was nurtured and tended to round-the-clock by determined human keepers, who helped her become a remarkable survivor. They also created a lasting hippo-human bond with Fiona, who has grown into a charming little (but getting bigger) ham, who loves to show off, mug for the camera, and photo-bomb zoo visitors.
In honor of Fiona’s 5th birthday today, we’re enjoying Beautiful Music by Amilcare Ponchielli. His DANCE OF THE HOURS from Disney’s 1940 film Fantasia features the graceful dance stylings of another impish hippo. You can also visit the link below to the Cincinnati Zoo to learn more about Fiona and her remarkable story.
Ponchielli Dance of the Hours from the 1940 Disney movie Fantasia. – YouTube