Hippos on Ice

Since we're stuck with winter – and the snow and ice that go with it – for a while longer, our little hippo clan decided to hold our own Hipp-O-Lympics.

You already know that Frankie likes curling, Aurora is a world-champion snow-hippo builder, Ludwig likes the slalom snow-hippo-angel making competition, Squeaky thinks the huge-hippo-luge looks interesting, and Opie is a speed-snout-sliding world champion!


As for me, I like ALL the winter hippo sports, but the napping-on-the-couch-after-a-cup-of-hot-chocolate-with-mini-marshmallows-marathon is my favorite!

Frankie Likes To Curl

Frankie's favorite winter game is curling.

His rotund physique is perfect for the sport.

His butt gets a little chilly and the sweepers tickle.

But sliding and bouncing are fun!

Thawing out the Zoo

Hippo stayed warm indoors during the blizzards. But now that the snow is melting, he took Aurora out for a stroll through the zoo.

Looks like the sloth bears haven't shoveled their walking paths yet. So lazy...

The elephant walk is very pretty under a blanket of snow. But it'd look even better with some snow elephants.

Poor Bronze panda hasn't had his ears scritched or snout rubbed in a week.

Momma panda is happily munching in the sunshine.

Oodles and Oodles of Noodles

Hippo has a sudden craving for noodles.

Frankie's Weather Report

During the Snowpocalypse of 2010, Frankie went outside to report on the weather.

The snow is five hippos deep and the temperature is two chills and a shiver. If you're going outside, bundle up!

The cars are hibernating. We'd better travel by foot.

Ludwig was hoping to visit the animals in the zoo, but nobody shoveled their sidewalk yet. We hope they have some good cartoons to watch and hot chocolate to warm up with.

The humans are sliding down a hill and struggling to climb back up. They probably wouldn't fall so fast if they didn't sit on those sheets of plastic.

Nature is very pretty when she puts her snow on.

It's unusually quiet and peaceful in the big city today. Maybe there will be more activity down this way.

The kids were starting up a snowball fight. Ludwig ducked behind a bush for a quick snapshot and then scurried off to safety.

The snowmen are growing fat this winter. They must be getting ready for a long, hot summer.

The Great Snow-pocalypse of 2010

I've heard the "staff" grumbling something about "H-E-double hockey sticks freezing over," but the rest of our little hippo bloat thinks the snow is pretty.



Aurora especially likes to play outside in the snow. She built her own little snow hippo friend.



Aurora also likes kitties and was very impressed by a snow kitty she saw on her walk.



Brrrr! Aurora got kind of cold and wet after a while, so she stopped for some coffee to warm up.



I wonder what all the other hippos were up to during the blizzard?!?!

Squeaky and Tai Shan

Hippo's friend Squeaky also wanted to see Tai Shan before he left America.

It was a nice snowy day to enjoy Winter at the National Zoo.

Even big kitties, which normally are not fond of water, seemed to enjoy a bit of snow on the snout.

Squeaky checked on the progress of the elephant walk construction. Elephant-sized path: check. Big bath tub: check. Elephants: elephants? Where are they?

Humans outnumber the critters at the zoo today. Maybe the elephants are hiding. Or helping to plow the parking lots to make room for all the visitors.

She sees him! She seems him! Tai Shan!

Snow makes pandas hungry.

Eating can get tiring.

Time for a snooze in the snow.

And time for lunch. An apple sandwich and bamboo fries, please!

Goodbye, Tai Shan!

It's a sad day for Washington, D.C., and the National Zoo. Our own baby panda, Tai Shan, has grown to a rambunctious 4-year-old and it's time for him to travel to China to start meeting all the panda ladies.

The crowds were thick, so Hippo observed from the balcony.

Tai Shan, like any little boy, doesn't seem too concerned with the commotion. He's most interested in his fruit pop.

Mom munched on her own snack next door. Is she going to miss Tai Shan? Or is she dreaming of a new baby panda joining the family?

Daddy is very relaxed, enjoying a quiet nap on his heated rock.

Zoo Presents

It was a cold January in Washington, D.C., so Hippo spent most of his time inside enjoying all his fun Christmas presents:


A snazzy tie, lots of candy, a paper hippo art project, some zoo animals, and a National Zoo T-shirt!


Hippo did venture out to visit Tai Shan and show him his National Zoo spirit.


But Tai Shan was more interested in munching on bamboo.


The Przewalski's horses never seems to mind cold weather.


But the cows seem frozen in place.


The orangutans enjoy playing ghost. Or abominable snowman.