Ludwig

Ludwig von Flusspferd wrote to tell Hippo how much he likes seeing all the fun things that Hippo does. And he wanted to share some other things that he likes to do too.

Ludwig likes snuggling in for a long trip.

Ludwig likes consulting the lunch menu.

Ludwig likes food shaped like O's

Ludwig likes playing in the snow.

Ludwig likes making angelic snow hippos.

Ludwig likes computing probability distributions.

Ludwig likes decorating cookies.

Ludwig likes playing the Moonlight Sonata.

Ludwig likes eating cake.

Ludwig likes art.

Ludwig likes posing with statues.

Ludwig likes pretty pictures.

Ludwig likes collecting souvenirs.

Ludwig likes getting presents.

Ludwig likes playing games.

Ludwig likes fancy dinners.

Ludwig likes dessert.

Ludwig likes taking naps.

Sweet dreams, Ludwig. And have a happy new year!

Hippo Christmas!

Hippo hopes everybody got a hippopotamus for Christmas.



Hippo Christmas to all, and to all a good hippo-night!

Mystery of Henrietta the Hippo

Hippo wonders who asked for a 200-pound pink hippopotamus for Christmas.


A fiberglass hippo named Henrietta retired from a children's zoo to El Dorado Hills, California. But now she's gone missing!

Fiberglass Hippo Stolen From Home

Hippo hopes it was just Santa's elves who took her back to his workshop to fix her fountain and patch her paint.

Festival of Lights

While we were out walking through ZooLights, Hippo asked if he could take a few pictures himself. He had a little trouble holding the camera steady, what with the shivers and excitement and all. But he seemed to capture the essence of the festive lights.

Hipp-snow-potamus

Brrrr! Opie wished for snow for Christmas, but Santa seemed to have gotten a little carried away!



Horatio is trying to see how much snow fell.



Look at those snowdrifts!




My tiny friend Aurora said she was going outside to try her new hat, but I can't find her.



There she is! She can't wait to build a snow hippo and then warm her toes with some hot chocolate.



Happy snow day!

ZooLights

A favorite holiday tradition for Hippo is dressing warm on a cold December night and going for a very special walk through the National Zoo.

It's ZooLights!

The trails are ablaze with festive lights.

And glowing animals appear around every corner.

Even tropical birds enjoy the festivities.

Hippo has stars in his eyes.

Tigers prowl the forest.

Chasing after butterflies.

The light pandas are munching happily.

And the fuzzy pandas are snoozing. Tai Shan must have gotten tired packing for his big trip to China.

A family of elephants is stomping through the grass.

And making it hard to hold the camera steady.

It's not quite cold enough to build snowhippos yet. But the water is definitely too cold for a swim.

We should go warm up in the barn.

The alpacas are getting cozy in their beds and probably wondering what's with all the late night visitors.

But the goats are already fast asleep.

A squirrel is outside juggling acorns.

And a pumpkin is grazing on the – wait, pumpkins aren't animals. Pumpkins are food! Mmm, food…

Nothing can be more satisfying after a brisk walk in the cold than warm cinnamon donuts and hot chocolate.