A $7 Birthday Gift for Fiona Comes with a Chance to Meet Cincinnati Zoo’s Hippo Bloat 

Posted January 17, 2024

Celebrate Fiona’s 7th birthday and be eligible to win the Ultimate Hippo Getaway! 

CINCINNATI, OH (January 17, 2023) World-famous hippo Fiona will be seven years old one week from today!  In honor of the Queen of Cincinnati’s Lucky 7th birthday, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is offering a grand prize package that includes a behind-the-scenes hippo tour for 7 people, a $1,000 Visa gift card, a 2-night stay at Graduate Cincinnati, a $50 gift card to Fiona’s Cafe, and a complete library of Fiona books illustrated by Richard Cowdrey. For those hoping to see Fiona on her birthday, or to just gather with other fans in Hippo Cove, the Zoo is offering $7 admission on January 24*. 

Photos | video  

“She is indeed a lucky hippo, having survived a premature birth against the odds,” said Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard.  “And she remains a hometown hero and symbol of hope seven years later.  People still come from all over the world to see Fiona and her little brother Fritz.”    

Are you feeling lucky? Here’s how to participate: 

Funds raised help provide food, toys, and fun enrichment for Zoo animals, so giving multiple gifts benefits the hippos and increases your chances of meeting them!  Purchase your gift for Fiona now through January 31, 2024, to be entered to win. Winner will be contacted by February 7, 2024. 

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden opens daily at 10 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. Enjoy deeply discounted admission during Penguin Days, now through March 8. 

*Please note: Weather must be 40 degrees or warmer for the hippos to be outside in Hippo Cove.