Summer is here at the San Diego Zoo and the hippo bloat knows it! These semiaquatic mammals spend their days keeping cool in the water and grazing on the shore at night. The season is in full swing and stopping by to experience the hippo bloat is the perfect way to enjoy it. 

Discover the hippo’s underwater world down the winding, shaded paths of the Lost Forest. Their aquatic ecosystem features 110 feet of crystal-clear glass for face-to-face moments under the cover of a vine-shaded pergola. Through the glass, you’ll never miss a moment of what the bloat is up to. The water is supported by a state-of-the-art system that can filter their entire habitat—up to 210,000 gallons of water—every hour! 

Meet the Bloat

There are three hippos in the bloat, and you’ll definitely want to get to know them. Funani and Amahle are a mother-daughter duo, and they live with adult hippo Guadelupe, or “Lupe” for short. Hippos are social animals, and in native habitats they live in groups with as many as 30 other hippos. 

Funani is the group's matriarch. She’s always observing what’s happening around her to make sure they’re all safe. Even if it seems like she’s not paying attention, trust us, she is. Funani can often be found where she can keep an eye on both Amahle and Lupe, in addition to everything else going on in the surrounding area. In addition to being a fierce protector for the bloat, she’s also a fantastic teacher for her daughter. 

Born in 2020, Amahle is the youngest. She’s curious and eager to learn while maintaining a carefree and goofy spirit. Funani and Lupe often keep their distance from each other, but Amahle has the best of both worlds with them. Since she has a mother and a mentor, she’s able to learn a lot of important hippo behaviors. She is like the glue of the group, bringing the three of them closer together. 

Lupe has only been with Funani and Amahle for a couple years. She’s in her 20s and has a lot of valuable lessons to teach Amahle. Both Funani and Amahle have never lived with an unrelated female hippo, so Lupe brings an entirely new language and dynamic to the group. She’s truly an expert in “hippo relations.” When she first arrived, she quickly made it clear to mom and daughter that she wanted to be part of their family, while still protecting her personal space, that is!

A Balanced Ecosystem

In native habitats, hippos and African freshwater fish support each other through symbiotic relationships. When hippos relieve themselves, their droppings introduce valuable nutrients and microbes into the water. These additions support fish, fish-eating birds, and ultimately the people who rely on those fish for food. 

It’s no different at the Zoo. The hippos aren’t alone in their expansive, underwater world. They share it with both tigerfish and cichlids. These fish species act as a cleaning crew—for both the hippos and the water. They eat the nutrient-dense vegetable matter and the waste that the hippos deposit. If they get close enough to the hippos, their mouths clean the hippos while they eat and in turn, this helps exfoliate the hippo’s skin. Talk about a relaxing spa day! Since hippos are herbivores, the fish also don’t have to worry about unintentionally becoming a meal. 

Splash Into Your Perfect Day 

Funani, Amahle, and Lupe are three extraordinary hippos. They show us that families come in all different shapes and sizes, and that every day together is a new, exciting adventure. Experience them all summer long at the Zoo and discover how your visits are making a difference for the landscapes they rely on through our Savanna and African Forest Conservation Hubs. The water’s perfect, so come on down and discover what awaits along Hippo Trail! 

Come curious to the San Diego Zoo and discover how every one of your visits is making a difference for wildlife worldwide through our eight Conservation Hubs.