Baby hippo Fiona makes her media debut at zoo, explores pool

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Baby hippo Fiona makes her media debut at zoo, explores pool

The Associated Press Published Thursday, June 1, 2017 10:54AM EDT

Fiona made her debut to the media in Hippo Cove at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, May 31, 2017, in Cincinnati. (Liz Dufour/The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP)

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CINCINNATI -- A popular baby hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden has made its news media debut.

Fiona made her media debut Wednesday with cameras rolling as she navigated the 9-foot-deep Hippo Cove pool. The zoo emphasizes she isn't ready for public display but the media-only event was a step toward that.

Fiona was born Jan. 24, weighing 29 pounds (13 kilograms). She overcame health scares and now weighs more than 100 pounds (45 kilograms).

such as Fiona taking a bottle, splashing in a pool or learning to run have drawn tens of millions of online views. Thousands of people have bought TeamFiona T-shirts and have eaten Fiona-themed bakery treats.

A brewery plans to introduce a beer dedicated to her.

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The zoo emphasizes Fiona isn't ready for public display but the media-only event was a step toward that. (Liz Dufour/The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP)
Fiona makes her debut to the media in Hippo Cove at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Wednesday, May 31, 2017, in Cincinnati. (Liz Dufour/The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP)