Lowry Park Zoo Throws Baby Shower for Elephant, Hippo

A mob of folks in pink shirts rushed the gates of Lowry Park Zoo on Saturday to get a glimpse of a newborn African elephant and pygmy hippopotamus.

The nonprofit facility offered a half-off deal for animal lovers sporting pink, with the day declared as the official baby shower for the zoo's newborn additions.

Zsa Zsa, the mother hippo, kept a watchful eye on her little girl, Zola, but the duo stayed submerged in water for most of the morning, only coming up for air once in a while.

Just a hop, skip and a jump away at the elephant exhibit, Mbali and her calf, who is yet to be named, roamed happily throughout the area.

Zola was born on Nov. 13, while the unnamed baby elephant was considered an early Christmas gift, arriving on Dec. 23.

Zookeepers were on hand Saturday to answer questions about the newbies while masses of zoo-goers attempted to snap photos of the infants.

Lowry Park Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and has multiple Species Survival Plan projects, which include threatened and  endangered species species and species of special concern. The zoo is also accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 

For more information and ticketing, visit Lowry Park online.