WATCH: Bibi the hippo is on birth watch at Cincinnati Zoo

Heather Hamilton

July 04, 08:15 AM July 04, 08:15 AM

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is on birth watch as Bibi the hippopotamus is set to soon give birth.

Measurements taken during ultrasounds are showing that this hippo’s calf is already larger than the zoo’s famous Fiona, who was born six weeks early in 2017, according to the zoo.

The zoo expects Bibi will be full term in August.

“Our Zoo Volunteer Observer (ZVO) team is starting their birth watch today!” the zoo wrote on Facebook. “They will keep a close watch on Bibi from 5pm - 7am via video stream from cameras placed inside the Hippo Barn.”

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The now 22 year-old Bibi weighs more than 3,000 pounds. She was trained to lean against a railing while eating romaine lettuce as veterinarian Julie Barnes checks on the fetus with a quick ultrasound that lasts around a minute at a time.

“It’s amazing,” Barnes told WCPO. “Not many people can say they’ve ultrasounded a hippo.”

In 2017, Bibi gave birth to Fiona, who survived after weighing 29 pounds — 25 pounds lighter than the then-lowest recorded hippo birth weight. Fiona was too small to nurse, as a typical calf would, and had to be cared for by the zoo’s staff.

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Barnes said the birth of Bibi’s second calf is highly anticipated.

“My gosh, we’re gonna all have a celebration after that,” Barnes said.