CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Zoo says a prematurely born baby hippo is making progress toward standing on her own.
The zoo says the calf born early Tuesday is starting to support her weight for a few seconds at a time.
Zoo spokeswoman Michelle Curley said Saturday the hippo has gained almost 4 pounds since birth but is still about 20 pounds under the low end of a normal birth weight of 55 to 120 pounds for a Nile hippo.
Curley says the hippo continues to receive 24-hour-a-day care including exercises to help strengthen her muscles.
The zoo says 17-year-old Bibi gave birth six weeks early to the first Nile hippo born there in 75 years.
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