Hippos: Big Love
Posted at 9:35 am October 29, 2009 by Nate Schierman
Funani (left) and Otis have an underwater date.
Otis came to the San Diego Zoo in January of this year, and after a brief quarantine period was introduced to Funani (see previous post, Enormous Changes for Hippos). Funani was less than thrilled about her new roommate and let him know it in no uncertain terms. After about three days together on exhibit, the decision was made to separate the pair.
During the interim, we worked diligently toward making the next introduction a successful one. First, Otis and Funani were given a “howdy,” an area where they could see, and interact, with one another without actually being able to come into contact. Second, we collected fecal samples from Funani. These samples were sent to the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research, where hormone levels were analyzed, giving us insight into Funani’s estrous cycle. This information would in turn enable us to determine when Funani was actually ovulating and would therefore be more receptive to Otis. Lastly, for extra insurance, we worked tirelessly on training Funani for tooth trimming.
Tooth trimming is a fairly routine practice for hippos in zoos, but Funani had not yet had any experience with such a procedure. Over the course of the past eight months, our dedicated staff trained Fu to stand still, open wide, and allow us to painlessly saw off the razor-sharp tips of her lower canines using a thin cable called a “giggly wire.” We accomplished this by using preferred foods as positive reinforcement in order for Funani to cooperate. If Funani decided she did not want to participate, we obliged and tried again another day. With these weapons blunted, the chances of Fu doing any serious damage to Otis would be minimized. It took a lot of patience, and special thanks go out to Manager Nicki Boyd, Supervisor Matt Akel, Lead Keeper Sue Averill, and Senior Keepers Dustin Black and John Michel for all of their work toward reaching this goal.
Finally, Fu’s teeth were trimmed and, based on behavioral observations in combination with our fecal sample study, we determined she was coming into estrus. Funani and Otis were videotaped the evening before they were introduced to ensure that Funani’s receptive behavior was accurate. The next morning the decision was made, and the pair was put together on exhibit. We watched as the two came nose to nose without a barrier for the first time in eight months. For the first half hour or so, the two hippos calmly stood face to face, at the bottom of their 150,000-gallon pool. Although quiet, it is quite possible that there was a lot of infrasonic (ultra low-frequency) communication occurring. After that first half hour, Funani was clearly submissive to Otis, and mating took place!
Since the introduction, they have been inseparable! If their breeding was successful, we should expect a newborn hippo come mid-June to early July. Clearly, patience, dedication, and a collaboration of animal care and research staff helped make this introduction a success.
Nate Schierman is a keeper at the San Diego Zoo. Read his previous post, New Okapi: Shh..It’s a Secret.
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October 29th, 2009 at 11:53 am
how long can the hippos stay under water before they need to come up for air?
Moderator’s note: If pressed, an adult hippo might be able to hold its breath underwater for up to 30 minutes.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Congrats to all!!
Possibly another baby to look forward too – exciting!!
October 29th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
thanks Nate for all this new information! I love some of the names that you come up with for the animals!
OTIS & FUNANI!!LOL!!!!!! I can hardly believe that you can train a hippo to open wide while you play dentist! amazing, simply amazing!!!! hopefully, a baby hippo will be on its way next summer! they are sooo cute with their little suit of armor! do you train them to let you take ultrasounds too? it would be nice to know for sure at some point whether a baby is on the way for funani & otis!keep us posted okay?
October 29th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
you think we can handle another baby at SDZ….YUP!!!! from panda, gorilla, elephants, etc…awaiting for polar bear and now this !!! SO EXCITING! as usuall you guys rock SDZ …always animals first and formost safety for both parties…patience is a virtue : )
so how come we can’t do a voting for all the animals on SDZ??? just to give you heads up..maybe we can help naming them …give me hope lol …anyways thanks tellin us about this love story..we know we need it..well I do <3
October 29th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Good to hear that they are finally getting along. Looking forward to more babies.
Saw Jabba last week. He seems to be enjoying a solo life here in LA.
Moderator’s note: Good to hear, Sayuri!
October 29th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Congratulations to everyone on a job well done! Patience does pay off, as does positive reinforcement. Fu and Otis now have the best of all worlds and companionship on top of that. How are Jabba and youngster doing in their new homes?
October 30th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Yea!! When I was walking around the zoo last weekend, I stopped by to see them and I just had this inkling that the two had found romance. They seem to be very compatible. With their huge pool, you’d think they’d spread out and find their own space. But no, the two were as close as two hippos can be. Looking forward to updates.
October 31st, 2009 at 5:04 am
I know Otis from L.A. Jabba is doing great
October 31st, 2009 at 9:50 am
Thank you for the update about your hippo pair. I remembered that their introduction wasn’t exactly love at first sight, so it’s exciting to hear that romance eventually blossomed after a lot of dedicated effort from the SDZ “Hippo Team.” Congratulations on another successful outcome, and thanks for the enchanting picture of the happy couple. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that you will be welcoming a new hippo in early summer 2010.
October 31st, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Good to hear Otis & Funani have finally gotten together, but we sure miss Jabba and their last baby Jazi. We visit twice a year in May & August and were wondering if anyone can tell us how Jabba in L.A. is doing and any info on Jazi, last we heard she went to Texas somewhere. was wondering if anyone in L.A. could give us some info on Jabba and if he has a mate yet.
November 1st, 2009 at 1:54 pm
How exciting! Please keep us posted.
November 1st, 2009 at 7:07 pm
I am in close contact with Jabba’s current keeper. Jabba continues to thrive in his new facility. As far as I know, at present, there are no plans for Jabba to breed and he currently does not have a mate. Always gregarious and interested in people, Jabba is happy in the company of his keepers and, from what I am told, has made fast friends with his neighbor (a female Indian rhino).
Jazi was shipped out before I began employment at the San Diego Zoo. She currently resides at the Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin, Texas. Jabba and Fu’s other two offspring are at the St. Louis Zoo.
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
What great news and information! We just visited the Zoo from MN last week and I made a comment to my husband about the hippo’s teeth and how they looked like big marshmallows. I even took a picture. I’m not sure if this is a picture of Fu though…
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g309/kzwief/157.jpg
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:10 am
Im so happy for all of you,I thought for a moment and well I just LOVE all animals!!!! Congradulations to job well done!! Cant wait to hear the up dates.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Hi Joe Jabba is great! sorry I have not had conections to the internet and I will email you the L.A. Photos.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
I see Jabba every day!
November 8th, 2009 at 11:39 am
hi Max if you need my email to send me the photos of the L.A. Zoo let me know thanks!
November 8th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Hi Max if you need my email to send me the photos of the L.A Zoo let me know! Would love to see some photos of JABBA and others!
November 13th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Which two of St. Louis Zoo’s hippos are Funani’s offspring? I’m a hippo “parent” at STL, and would love to know more about “my girls.”