“Large amounts of hippos have died due to Anthrax. “In the wild, Hippos have been poached and their carcasses left out in the wild where other hippos have eaten and contracted Anthrax,” Massey said. In the country, I don’t think you will find a lot of places to do this,” McMaster said.
“I think this will be really special for our zoo. Kiboko is the Swahili term for hippopotamus. In the past several months, the zoo created the Kiboko River Station as an observation deck for visitors. It can’t happen now due to social distance concerns. It will allow humans the rarest of up-close encounters with an endangered species. Later this summer, the zoo hopes to allow visitors to reserve a ticket for an additional fee to stand with McMaster or other caretakers at 11:30 a.m. It’s like a free-standing buffet 24 hours a day.” “It is a really special species that not a lot of zoos in the world have,” Massey said. The two African native mammals - third largest land mammal species in the world - can consume as much as 150 pounds of food per-day, much of it enjoyed at night when all hippos like to eat.
The Gulf Breeze Zoo offers a lot to share.įew zoos have a one-acre habitat, specifically crafted for two Nile hippos, which are the larger of two hippo species and with prehistoric roots dating back 55 million years ago. “We’re excited to be reopening to share what we are doing here.” So our staff still has a job to do every day. “We have some really critically, endangered animals here that we work on conservation efforts every day. Conservation doesn’t stop when the doors are closed. And we have animals to take care of here. “That saying about the show must go on doesn’t change here at the zoo,” Massey said. They have interacted with the animals, made sure the surroundings were well-maintained, spruced up several areas and kept the animals safe and content. In the past six weeks, the 40 employees at the Gulf Breeze Zoo have worked as if it was business as normal. “With (animals), it’s almost like ‘Who turned off the TV?' I always think animals make the world better, period. “Our animals are expert people watchers,” said Katy Massey, conservation curator, now in her fourth year with the Gulf Breeze Zoo and sister property Alabama Safari Park near Montgomery, Alabama, which is a drive-through zoo experience. ? RELATED: BEACH GUIDE: Is the beach open? Your guide to Panhandle beaches from Panama City to Pensacola Beachīut the 1,000-plus animals in the carefully designed, thick foliage park will be able to have a daily experience again with the public. There are several social distance guidelines and visitor limitations practiced, including the distances kept between visitors. Shuttered since March 23, as part of response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Gulf Breeze Zoo began accepting visitors at 9 a.m. ? RELATED: Grim Reaper gets cold shoulder in Walton County “They are actually pretty happy to see people and I think they are showing off.” “In the country, I don’t think you will find a lot of places to do this,” she said. “I think this will be really special for our zoo,” she said. “I have some more for you, buddy,” said Jamie McMaster, assistant director/general curator for the Gulf Breeze Zoo in showing off the zoo’s newest addition to the hippo habitat. Mouth open, teeth shining, there was machine-like digestion of freshly sliced apple wedges, part of a special daily diet, then back to rest with its even bigger, female hippo companion, Cleopatra, in the comforts of the pond. Please support local journalism by subscribing to the Northwest Florida Daily News.Īt a caretaker’s urging, Kiboko, a 3,000-pound, Nile Hippopotomus, burst from the brackish pond below to rest its massive head on the newly-built observation deck ledge to enjoy a mid-day snack.
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