in the hippo exhibit.

The following encounters happened in WARE, or the West African River Experience exhibit at the Aquarium. [editor's note: most, if not all, of the animals in this exhibit can be found in places other than West Africa. I'm not kidding.] This exhibit holds a large porcupine, a few dozen free-flying birds, and 2 female hippopotamuses.


An employee is carrying a 20-inch long plastic replica of a hippo tusk.
Man: Is that an elephant tusk?
Employee: No, this is a hippo tooth.
Man: Oh, yeah. You don't have elephants here... do you?

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Every year, we celebrate our older hippo's birthday. It's huge event, with banners outside, decorations all through the inside, large inflatable cakes, a 8-foot tall plastic Dr. Seuss-esque cake in the cafe, and a smaller replica of that cake, which is wheeled into the hippo exhibit every day, while simultaneously, a "cake" made of vegetables (since the hippos are herbivores) is given to the hippos, and then everyone sings them "Happy Birthday" (in a flagrant display of copyright infringement).
Lady seeing the big cake being wheeled out: Oooh! It must be somebody's brithday!
Employee: Yes! We're celebrating the Hippo's birthday! That's why there are decorations all over the place, and every employee you've seen today has been wearing a "hippo's birthday" t-shirt.
Lady: Oh.

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Lady to son: Hippos can open their mouths 180 degrees! That's a full circle! [draws circle with finger]

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Guy: Do the hippos have to keep moving all the time to keep water moving over their gills?

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Person: Wow! The rhinos are so beautiful! I didn't know they spent so much time in the water!