Tony the hippo is now at Wildlife Safari in Winston.
Marketing Director Jacob Schlueter said the hippopotamus is almost two-years old and came from the San Diego Zoo. Executive Director Dan Van Slyke said that hippos at Wildlife Safari are “immensely popular”. He said Tony is sure to get plenty of attention and will “play a big part in making many family memories at the park”. He arrived on July 10th.
The release said Wildlife Safari welcomes around 250,000 guests year each year from the west coast and from all over the world. The release said Tony will play a vital role in the park’s “zoo in reverse” atmosphere.
Wildlife Safari is the only drive-through wildlife park in Oregon. Tony will join a collection of more than 500 animals, many of whom roam freely over 400 acres of developed land, situated deep in the forested hills with only a few non-natural buildings visible from inside the park.
Dan Brands, the parks general curator, said the first thing Tony was interested in was their older hippo Padrone. Brands said the two will be kept separately for the time being while Tony gets his bearings.
The release said the park expects the two hippos to be fast friends and is anticipating their introductions within the next couple of weeks.