Kid Territory:Critters: Hooray for Hippos!
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Zoo names: Jabba and Funani Their storyWalk down the path from Tiger River into Ituri Forest and you'll see the hippos, Jabba or Funani. Both hippos moved to the San Diego Zoo from the Knoxville Zoo in 1995. Neither hippo is a Tennessee native: Jabba was born at the Detroit Zoo in 1983; Funani was born at the Toledo Zoo in 1984. They are middle-aged, as hippos can live 40 to 50 years in zoos. Just averageJabba was named after the Star Wars character Jabba the Hut. He weighs about 5,300 pounds (2,400 kilograms). Even though he sounds like a big fellow, he is of average size; males can weigh up to 8,000 pounds (3,600 kilograms)! Funani weighs about 3,500 pounds (1,600 kilograms). Keeping track of the hippos' weights is important for keeping them healthy. Healthy hipposPart of keeping a hippo healthy is feeding them the right food. Jabba and Funani eat Bermuda grass and alfalfa hay. They also eat a zoo food called “elephant pellets,” which are made of hay pressed into pellet form. Do hippos have to eat tons of food? No. They are fed just twice a day, and each meal fits into a wheelbarrow. The hippos really like melons as a treat. When tour groups are brought behind the scenes to meet the hippos, the tour guide often offers melons to the hippos to get them to come closer. The melons are also a great way to show visitors the hippo’s large front teeth. Water is cool!Jabba can be stubborn about coming close. But if a hose is sprayed at him he will open his mouth to feel the water hit his teeth. He seems to enjoy the feeling of fresh water squirting into his mouth. There is a pool in the hippo bedrooms; when it is filling after being cleaned, the keepers often find Jabba lying by the hose with his enormous mouth wide open. Defending the bedroomSince he’s a male hippo, Jabba likes to mark his territory and does it with much exuberance. What does he use? His feces and urine, of course, and the more the better! His paddle-shaped tail swishes back and forth as he poops, making sure he also coats the floor, walls, and ceiling of his bedroom. This means that being a hippo keeper is a very messy job! Jabba completely marks his clean bedroom every single morning. His keepers say he may poop up to 10 times in a few hours when he sees a sparkling clean barn. Where you can see themThe hippos are most active in the morning. Jabba likes to spout and vocalize in the pool near sunset. Now that you know a little more about the San Diego Zoo’s hippos, come meet these awesome animals in person. MoreAnimal Bytes: Hippopotamus |
Jabba shows off his enormous tusks. The keepers often spray water into his
mouth, a favorite game for both hippo and keeper!
People-watching is another favorite activity for our hippos. Here, Jabba checks
out the scene.
Hippos spend most of the day in the water, with only the top of the heads peeking
out. Funani knows this is the best way to cool off on a hot day.