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meet the keeper Each and every Toronto Zoo Keeper is an animal expert so we let them do the talking. Through their passion and knowledge for our animals our Keeper Talks are a not-to-miss opportunity to learn more about different species that call the Zoo home animal conservation and ways you can make a difference. Plus visitors have the opportunity to increase their Zoo IQ and ask our keepers questions at the end of each talk hip-hippo-ray for summer Did you know the Toronto Zoo is one of only two places in North America where you can see both species of hippopotamus Summer is the best time to see our river hippos since they are sensitive to cold weather due to their naked skin. In the wild they spend the day sleeping submerged in waterways across sub-Saharan Africa and our river hippos at the Zoo do the same youre most likely to see them lounging about in their pool occasionally lifting their heads to breathe they can easily hold their breath for five minutes at a time. The best time to see our river hippos awake and active is first thing in the morning and late in the afternoon AND during the daily keeper talk when they get treats such as apples or a juicy melon. Our three river hippos are all siblings. Samson the oldest at 41 turning 42 on July 21 is housed by himself to prevent breeding and is significantly larger than his sisters. If you see two hippos on exhibit you know its the girls Petal who will turn 29 on July 15 who has a dark teardrop marking under her left eye and Perky 24 years old who can be identified by her lower left canine tooth which peeks out from her lips. Although the river hippos are only on display during warmer weather you can check out Harvey our 20-year-old male pygmy hippo in the African Rainforest Pavilion year-round. Native to the rainforests of West Africa pygmy hippos are 5-10 times smaller than river hippos in terms of weight but they still weigh 400-600 pounds your day at the zoo Meet the Keeper Schedule Komodo Dragon 1130 am Polar Bear 12 pm and 3 pm African Penguin 1230 pm Otter 1230 pm White Rhino 12 pm Orangutan 1 pm Grizzly Bear 1 pm Cheetah 1 pm Lion 130 pm Indian Rhino 2 pm Giraffe 2 pm Snake 230 pm Gorilla 230 pm Hippopotamus 230 pm NEW Snow Leopard 1 pm daily Perky Petal Samson Harvey Weather permitting