May 19th 2023

Gori the hippo's 3rd underwater birthday at BIOPARC Valencia

The Valencian park is home to the only underwater enclosure for hippos in Spain, which made it possible to contemplate the peculiar anniversary party with the spectacular 7-tier cake with their favorite delicacies.

All animals are important at BIOPARC and all receive the best care to guarantee their maximum well-being. But some are especially loved for various circumstances. Gori, the baby hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) from BIOPARC Valencia, which today meets 3 years, It is one of them. It was born during confinement, when only the technical team went to the park daily to keep the facilities in perfect condition and attend to the needs of the more than 6.000 animals of 150 different species in the same way as always. Animals that remained oblivious to such exceptional circumstances.

With all the love, the animal care staff has prepared an authentic birthday party for the hippopotamus Gori and his family. The decoration with a huge, striking, original and delicious birthday cake It awaited him at the exit in the area that recreates the great African wetlands. Each of the 7 tiers was carefully made with their favorite ingredients: kiwi, strawberry, passion fruit, grape, etc. And a giant 3 formed with fruit and vegetables. Also, inside the large aquarium they have found special environmental enrichment with gelatins and other foods. An event that was witnessed by the large public that was visiting BIOPARC, both individuals and many groups of tourists and schoolchildren.

Video: special environmental enrichment on the occasion of the 3rd birthday of the hippopotamus Gori.

In BIOPARC Valencia there is the only recreation of the mythical Kitum cave and, inside, the impressive and threatened ecosystem of African lakes and rivers is discovered. In this way, the park offers the only underwater view in Spain of hippos coexisting with different species of fish.

This event serves as a preview of the special activities for the celebration of Biological Diversity Day that will fill the park with life this Sunday, May 21.

On the other hand, as prior to the commemoration on May 22, International Day of Biological Diversity, specialists from the Department of Education have prepared free activities for all audiences this Sunday 21st at 10am. at 13.30:XNUMX p.m.. Through entertaining dramatized talks, the loss of biodiversity and some of its causes will be addressed, such as poaching, illegal pet trafficking, water pollution and the serious problem caused by invasive exotic species. All of this to provide information on the situation and threat of both the so-called “biodiversity hot zones” and our closest environment. Likewise, emphasis will be placed on how each person can act to stop and reverse this situation, motivating the necessary change in attitude towards commitment to environmental conservation.

Hippos are one of the species that suffer from the deterioration of their habitats and are currently included in the IUCN red list. (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as vulnerable to extinction. The data is terrible, since 90% of the hippos that inhabited Africa last century have already disappeared. Foundation, with its proposal of “leisure with a cause”, brings closer the beauty of this endangered nature with the aim of raising awareness of its protection.