Fiona the Hippo: The Super Bowl's Most Accurate (and Adorable) Predictor

Oh, Fiona! Our beloved hippopotamus from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has once again proved her psychic prowess, or perhaps just her excellent taste in enrichment items. It’s always a huge event when Fiona makes her Super Bowl pick, and this year, she certainly didn't disappoint. The anticipation around her choice for Super Bowl LVIII was just palpable, wasn't it?

The stage was set, as it always is for such a grand occasion. Zookeepers presented our famous hippo with two distinct enrichment items, each thoughtfully decorated to represent one of the teams vying for the championship: the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. It was a moment of quiet suspense, everyone wondering which way Fiona’s instincts would lead her. And then, without much hesitation, she made her move, decisively choosing the item representing the Kansas City Chiefs first. A clear winner in her eyes, it seemed!

Well, what can we say? Fiona truly knows her football! As Super Bowl LVIII unfolded, it became gloriously clear that her prediction was spot on. The Kansas City Chiefs triumphed, just as she had indicated they would. This wasn't her first rodeo, either. Fiona has built quite a reputation for her gridiron insights. She correctly picked the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV back in 2020, too. And while she correctly predicted the Bengals would reach Super Bowl LVI in 2022 (a huge moment for our local team!), she didn't pick them to win that one. So, when it comes to predicting the ultimate Super Bowl champion, her record is now an impressive, and frankly, quite amazing, two-for-two!

Of course, Fiona wasn't the only one weighing in. Her adorable younger brother, Fritz, also had a go at predicting the winner. In a rather sweet display, he opted for the San Francisco 49ers. Bless his heart, he was rooting for the underdog, perhaps? Or maybe just had a different preference for the toy presented to him! Unfortunately for Fritz, and for the 49ers fans, his prediction didn't quite pan out this time around. But hey, there's always next year for Fritz to fine-tune his forecasting skills!

It's these playful, charming moments that truly highlight the personalities of our zoo animals and bring so much joy to the community. Fiona, with her uncanny ability to pick Super Bowl winners, continues to be a shining star, adding a fun, unforgettable layer to the excitement of the big game. Who knew a hippo could be such a keen football analyst? We certainly love her for it!