Here at the Gulf Breeze Zoo, we have two Nile hippos. Our male is named Kiboko and the female is Cleopatra.
The world's third-largest land mammal, Nile hippopotamuses weigh around 3,000 pounds, eating mostly grasses. They spend up to 16 hours a day underwater to keep cool but when they’re on land, they can run up to 30 miles per hour.
Hippos are considered vulnerable, meaning their population is diminishing. Up to 130,000 hippos remain in the wild. The loss of habitat is the primary reason for their decline.
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Did you know that hippos only eat grasses and fallen fruit? In their native habitat, they graze for four or five hours a day, eating a small amount based on their body weight.
Get up close and personal with them during a hippo encounter, where you will learn fun facts about their daily life, how we care for them here and how we train them. You might also catch a glimpse of them while on a safari express train ride.
Book an encounterThe Gulf Breeze Zoo is home to more than 800 animals from nearly every continent and of almost every size – from 1-ounce budgies to 3,300-pound hippos. Learn more about all of them, especially our featured animals.
