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Featured Animals – Nile Hippopotamus

Discover “everything hippo” around the Zoo below; from news to adoptions, births, conservation programs, your own encounter options, animal experiences, shows, events and more.

Hippo Highlights

Nile Hippopotamus Calf "Omo"

Where Water's Edge: Africa

~ Born Tuesday, July 21, 2021 at 1:57 p.m., to 28-year-old first time mother Zambezi and 18 year-old father Biko. This buoyant bundle of joy is a baby boy named, “Omo.” He is the first hippo born at CMZoo in 32 years! Omo lives full-time with his mom, Zambezi, and has been learning to communicate with his aunt, Kasai, and dad, Biko, who live separately in the same habitat, by making little ‘chuffing’ noises. Keepers have seen Omo’s personality continue to get bigger, along with the rest of him. They say he doesn’t just enter a room; he explodes into it! Watch for updates here, and on our social media channels. Check in with Omo, his mom, Zambezi at Water’s Edge: Africa.

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Everything Hippo

Omo’s 1st Birthday Party

Wednesday, July 20 at 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

All ages. Location: Water's Edge, Africa exhibit, at hippos. Celebrate Omo turning one with us! Discover cool biofacts, make a birthday card for Omo, snap selfies with props, catch a keeper talk on hippos and watch Omo receive a birthday cake! Click 'Find out more" for details and event schedule.

Omo Turns One This Month, and You’re Invited!

June 30, 2022

We can hardly believe Omo will turn one year old on July 20! It’s been a year of adorable ear wiggles, plops and boops with this boy, and it’s been our joy to share him with you. Hear our Water’s Edge: Africa keepers’ favorite ‘Omo-ments’ over the past year. To celebrate Omo’s first birthday, our . . .

An Outdoor Update with Omo and Zambezi

May 25, 2022

Our 10-month-old Nile hippo calf continues to grow and explore alongside his mom, Zambezi. Join Water’s Edge: Africa lead keeper, Philip, for an update on Omo and another milestone we expect Omo to reach soon: the 500-pound mark! We’ll be hosting a fun guessing game for a Zoo prize on our Facebook and Instagram accounts, . . .

Omo Learns to Chuff! Check in With Our 9-Month-Old Hippo Calf

April 28, 2022

Our little hippo calf, Omo, is 9 months old, and he’s outgrown the baby-proofing in his indoor training area! He’s nursing less and eating more solid foods, which are helping him grow up big and strong. He recently weighed in at 435 pounds. That may seem huge to us, but Omo is still just a . . .

Check in with Omo

March 30, 2022

Get up close for a big lettuce crunch with Omo, CMZoo’s 8-month-old Nile hippo calf. Water’s Edge: Africa lead keeper, Philip, gives us an update on Omo’s latest milestones, including his first steps toward training and more explorations throughout his home.

Six Months of Omo Magic: Enjoy a Video Compilation of our Favorite Hippo Moments

January 26, 2022

It has been six months of Omo goodness, so we’re taking a little trip down memory lane AND showing you some new up-close Omo footage. Spoiler alert: incoming Omo window boops. From watching Zambezi embrace motherhood for the first time with such a gentle nature to seeing Omo wild out in the pools, and every . . .

Hippo Baby and Mom Pool Party: Omo and Zambezi at CMZoo

January 10, 2022

CMZoo’s four hippos have access to multiple indoor and outdoor climate-controlled pools, grassy yards, a waterfall and indoor land areas, which they take turns sharing. Omo and Zambezi chose to spend time in their privacy pool the other day, and the adorable duo had quite the pool party! Surveillance camera footage caught 5-month-old Omo jumping, . . .

Check in with Omo, CMZoo Hippo Calf

December 29, 2021

December was a big month for CMZoo’s smallest hippo. He just broke the 300-pound mark! Five-month-old Omo is consistently eating solid foods now, but he’ll continue nursing for several months to come. He’s also getting more confident, showing he’s comfortable around new enrichment items, like big boxes and boomer balls. Omo is also meeting his . . .

Omo’s First Watermelon Smash (Kind Of)

November 25, 2021

Four-month-old Nile hippo calf, Omo, is growing and learning every day. Although he’s still nursing to get all of the nutrients he needs, he has started to explore solid foods. Because his parents, Zambezi and Biko, and his aunt, Kasai, love to smash watermelons, we couldn’t resist seeing if Omo would be interested in this . . .

Omo’s Four Month Birthday

November 23, 2021

Omo is four months old today! He doesn’t quite have the teeth for chewing solid foods, but he sure does try! Omo is working on mastering mastication while his mom, Zambezi, patiently eats her dinner next to him. He still has a bit of work to do, but one day, we know he’ll be a . . .

Porpoising with Purpose.

November 10, 2021

As Omo grows bigger by the day, so does his playfulness! Lately, our 3-month-old hippo has been spending his days practicing his porpoising, a behavior that hippos can exhibit to express excitement and playfulness. Instead of pushing off slowly from the bottom of the pool, like they usually do to resurface, porpoising hippos leap from . . .

Hippos in Harmony: Check in with the Pod

October 29, 2021

CMZoo’s four Nile hippos, Zambezi, Omo, Biko and Kasai, have had a busy summer and fall! If you’ve been following our newsletter updates and social media channels, you know that our three-month-old hippo, Omo, and his mom, Zambezi, have been bonding well and exploring all of the hippo spaces in Water’s Edge: Africa, while Omo . . .

New Spaces, More Naps and Confidence Galore: Enjoy a Two-Month Check-In with Omo, Nile Hippo Calf

September 30, 2021

September was a big month for our quickly growing Nile hippo calf. He got a name, explored new spaces and tried new foods. One thing didn’t change for young Omo, though: his love for naps. Join Water’s Edge: Africa keeper, Grace, for an update on our two-month-old calf, and hear about how Omo’s following in . . .

Baby Hippo Name Reveal

September 13, 2021

The #CMZoo staff votes are in, and it’s time to reveal the name of our baby hippo! Keepers set up an extra-special breakfast of carrots, oranges and hay for Zambezi in the shape of her calf’s new name. As we show you the video in reverse, his name will be revealed! Following the theme of . . .

Hippo Calf Learning How to Hippo From Mom, Zambezi

September 6, 2021

Zambezi’s mini-me is learning how to hippo! At eight weeks old, the little calf is still nursing, but that doesn’t stop him from attempting to eat hay, just like mom. The pair have been spending more time on land, both early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Hippo-ing is a lot of work . . .

Baby Boy Hippo’s 5-Week Update

August 27, 2021

Join us for a 5-week check-in with our beloved baby boy hippo. He and his mom, Zambezi, continue to bond well, and have even been exploring the main hippo yard together. Little baby hippo is weighing in at more than 160 pounds now! He’s gaining about a pound a day. He’s also starting to grow . . .

Baby Hippo Explores and Naps With Mom, Zambezi

August 14, 2021

Napping can be tough when you have a newborn! Zambezi is clearly a great mom, always keeping a watchful eye on her little one in between quick winks. Her 3-and-a-half week old calf is great at power napping right alongside her, when not exploring his new, great big world. Once Zambezi decides that naptime is . . .

It’s a Boy!

August 12, 2021

THREE-WEEK OLD BABY HIPPO’S DAD CELEBRATES WITH A BLUE WATERMELON SMASH – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo today announced their newest bundle of joy – a three-week-old Nile hippo – is a boy! To celebrate, 18-year-old first-time Nile hippo dad, Biko, smashed a watermelon with the insides dyed blue, with animal-safe food coloring. Enjoy this video, for . . .

Join us for a Hippo Calf Sex Reveal Party!

August 12, 2021

Ladies and gentlemen, the time has arrived for the baby hippo sex reveal! Water’s Edge: Africa Lead Keeper, Philip, is joined by the calf’s father, Biko, to mark the special occasion. The commissary team at #CMZoo prepared a special treat for the 18-year-old hippo dad; a watermelon with the insides dyed with animal-safe food coloring . . .

Baby Hippo Nap Time

August 6, 2021

Itty bitty little hippo is ready for a nap! After a long day of swimming with mom and exploring its brand-new world, our 2-and-a-half week old hippo looks ready for a nap as mom, Zambezi, eats her dinner. Although the baby is still only nursing, it seems to be learning lots from mom, including trying . . .

Hippo Mom and Calf Pop Up to Say Hello

August 2, 2021

Zambezi and her two-week-old calf are popping up to say hello for #TooCuteTuesday! #KeeperCam The hippo building in Water’s Edge: Africa is open to the public as a ‘quiet zone.’ While Zambezi and her baby bond, the two can sometimes be difficult to spot, but if you’re patient, you are likely to catch a glimpse. . . .

We’re in love! Get to Know CMZoo’s Brand-New Baby Hippo

July 29, 2021

First-time Nile hippo mom, Zambezi, welcomed her calf to the world on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Since then, keepers have seen her embrace her new role with ease. Her baby is growing and spending lots of time napping in the shallows of Water’s Edge: Africa’s hippo pools with mom. Hear from lead Water’s Edge keeper, . . .

Hip, Hippo, Hooray! Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Welcomes Its First Baby Hippo in 32 Years

July 21, 2021

With a final push, a little splash and some adorable baby hippo ear wiggles, 28-year-old Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Nile hippopotamus, Zambezi (zam-BEE-zee), welcomed her first calf on Tues. July 20. At 1:57 p.m., the baby hippo popped up from underwater, bobbed up and down, and swam right over to meet its mom. As long as . . .

An Update on CMZoo’s Nile Hippos, Zambezi, Biko and Kasai

December 30, 2020

Join Al and Phil, Water’s Edge: Africa keepers, for an update on Biko, Kasai and Zambezi, our three Nile hippos. Biko, our 18-year-old male, joined us in June, and has been developing a strong relationship with Zambezi. Biko is here on a breeding recommendation with Zambezi and Kasai, who are sisters. Learn more from their . . .

New Babies

The pride and joy for all new parents, these newest members of the Zoo family make our hearts sing. Learn about new baby details, locations of babies for your visit and young animals to watch for!

Adopt Choices for Hippo, Omo

Omo celebrated his 1st Birthday this summer, and we’re offering an Omo Wild Adoption gift package. Support your favorite with digital, traditional, gift package, and group adoptions. Gifting any adopt choice is available by simply completing the gift area at checkout.

Biko Makes a Splash in Water’s Edge: Africa

August 26, 2020

Biko (BEE-koh), a 17-year-old male Nile hippopotamus who joined us at the end of June, is quickly winning over the hearts of humans and hippos alike. In just a couple of months, he has learned to navigate his new home, met CMZoo’s hippos sisters, Zambezi and Kasai, warmed up to his keepers, and started engaging . . .

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Welcomes Biko, Male Nile Hippo

July 1, 2020

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo welcomed another multi-ton resident to the brand-new exhibit, Water’s Edge: Africa, on Tuesday evening. Biko (BEE-koh), a 17-year-old male Nile hippopotamus, will join female hippos, Zambezi (zam-BEE-zee) and Kasai (kuh-SIGH), on a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Nile Hippopotamus Species Survival Plan. He will continue to acclimate . . .

Video Tour of Water’s Edge: Africa

May 28, 2020

Meet some of the keepers, see some of the animals and learn about some of the cool features of our newest exhibit for hippos and penguins – Water’s Edge: Africa! Back to The Waterhole

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Staff Celebrates Hippo Homecoming

May 23, 2020

Saturday, May 23, 2020 (COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) – With Water’s Edge: Africa Construction Issues Resolved, Nile Hippos Return to CMZoo! The sounds of hippo ‘laughs’ are once again echoing from the side of Cheyenne Mountain. Zambezi (zam-BEE-zee) and Kasai (kuh-SIGH), CMZoo’s Nile hippo sisters, are back home at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! The two female hippos . . .

Water’s Edge: Africa

Discover an educational nature playground for animal lovers that also offers important homes for our hippos and penguins! This special exhibit design enhances their environments and supports successful breeding programs for both species, while giving our guests extraordinary unique ways to view their daily lives. Nile hippos and African penguins face surmounting threats in the wild, so it’s important that we try to inspire people to take conservation action on behalf of these, and other, species.

A special thank you to the generous donors of the Making Waves capital campaign, which made Water’s Edge: Africa possible.

Checking in on Zambezi and Kasai, CMZoo Nile Hippos

February 26, 2020

Although Water’s Edge: Africa’s opening date hasn’t been set, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is steadily preparing to welcome home Zambezi (zam-BEE-zee) and Kasai (kuh-SIGH), two female Nile hippopotamuses who are taking an extended vacation at Dickerson Park Zoo, in Springfield, Missouri. They moved there in 2016 to allow us to build a new state-of-the-art exhibit for . . .

Water’s Edge: Africa Construction Update #12

February 18, 2020

Bob Chastain, CMZoo president and CEO, is back with the latest update from Water’s Edge: Africa. We’ve refilled the void in the soil under the indoor hippo pool and waterproofed the new concrete. Soon, we’ll do another water test to measure continued water loss. Get an up-close view of the micro cracks that we’re repairing . . .

Water’s Edge: Africa Construction Update #11 – January 24th 2020

January 24, 2020

Bob Chastain, CMZoo president and CEO, is back with an update on Water’s Edge: Africa! From the indoor penguin pool, Bob gives the details about the pool and underground excavation, soil testing (good news!), and reconstruction of the hippo and penguin pools. The next step is additional water testing, which involves measuring how much the . . .

Water’s Edge: Africa Construction Update #10 – December 2019

December 27, 2019

We're back with an update on our hippo and penguin exhibit under construction, Water's Edge: Africa. Bob Chastain, president and CEO of CMZoo, explains why we're experiencing delays and gives the most recent anticipated opening timeline. We really wanted a hippopotamus for Christmas, but (#spoileralert) it's going to be at least a few more months until we can welcome the hippo girls home...

V.I.P. Small Group Tours

Custom Memories for a Lifetime. Book a world-class V.I.P. Tour at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Treat yourself and your fellow animal lovers to an experience of a lifetime! Go behind-the-scenes to meet, feed, or train your favorite animals. Learn more...

Adopt an Animal

Foster any animal and you’ll help Cheyenne Mountain Zoo continue to provide outstanding care. Whether given as a gift or used to celebrate a favorite species, symbolic adoptions come with a variety of benefits only adoptive parents can enjoy. Ways to adopt your favorites: Digital Adoption – ($35) choose any Zoo animal from the full . . .

Way Beyond Watching

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