Actions

Baby hippo Cincinnati Zoo: Bibi's new baby needs a name and the zoo wants you to weigh in

Cincinnati Zoo accepting name submissions

If you have a name suggestion for the newborn, you can submit it directly to the Cincinnati zoo. The link is on our website.

Here's the latest from the Cincinnati zoo's newest baby

By: Christian LeDuc

Posted

CINCINNATI — Move over Fiona, Bibi's new baby is taking the spotlight.

The infant was born late Wednesday night but we likely won't know the newborn's sex for weeks. However, that's not stopping folks from coming up with name ideas. Bubbles, Melon, Fibi, Petunia and Glow are just some of the names going around on social media.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WCPO 9 (@9onyourside)

If you have a name suggestion for the newborn, you can submit your suggestion directly to the Cincinnati Zoo by clicking HERE.

Zoo officials said the new baby looks huge compared to its first baby hippo star, Fiona. Keepers estimated that the newborn weighs about 60 pounds.

"Fiona only weighed 29 pounds when she was born six weeks premature and wasn't able to stand on her own," said Christina Gorsuch, director of animal care at the Cincinnati Zoo.

The Cincinnati Zoo's Bibi gave birth to a healthy hippo calf late Wednesday night.

“Bibi and the baby, yet to be named, will spend the next two weeks bonding behind the scenes,” said Gorsuch. “A female would take her newborn away from the bloat for about that amount of time in the wild, and we try to give Bibi the choice to do what feels natural to her.”

Hippo keepers shared this adorable video of Bibi and her new calf and said "It looks like Fiona's world-famous ear wiggles run in the family."

Bibi wiggling her ears

Zoo officials said earlier in the week that Bibi had begun showing signs of restlessness and a desire to spend more time indoors, which are indications that she was close to giving birth.

Watch Bibi with her newborn hippo just hours after birth:

Footage of the Cincinnati Zoo's Bibi with her new baby hippo hours after birth

The baby's estimated due date was set for Aug. 15, but caretakers said a hippo's birth window could be 30 days before or after that estimation.

Zoo officials said Bibi and her newborn will be kept separated from 5-year-old Fiona and 19-year-old Tucker so that mom and baby have plenty of time to bond.

The Cincinnati Zoo's Bibi was due Aug. 15.

Don't expect to see Bibi and her newborn right away. They will not be in front of the public, but the zoo said members have access to live cams in the outdoor habitat and can watch all the action at Hippo Cove from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day.