Cincinnati Zoo's Preemie Hippo Taking Steps for Outdoor Adventures

The prematurely-born hippopotamus at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens is making steps toward using the outdoor exhibit and meeting the public for the first time.The zoo on Thursday, April 13, released video showing Fiona using the larger indoor pool her mother and father use. The pool was drained to a manageable depth for her and will become deeper as she masters the technique to propel herself to the surface for air. Navigating deeper water is something Fiona must master before she is introduced to the outdoor hippo habitat.The zoo gave an update earlier this week on the steps Fiona is undertaking in order to not only be reunited with her parents but also to meet the public for the first time. The zoo plans to introduce Fiona slowly to the outdoor habitat and larger groups of people before her public debut. They estimated the earliest she could meet the public would be in June.