Oklahoma City Zoo Gets Another Hippopotamus For Christmas

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Gayla Peevey, whose infamous lyrics "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" helped Oklahoma City's zoo buy its first hippo more than 60 years ago, welcomed another hippo to the facility. The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden announced on Monday that it received Francesca, a 26-year-old female pygmy hippo, from the San Diego Zoo.

Transportation of the hippo was provided at no cost by FedEx, the zoo said.

Peevey, an Oklahoma City native, was on hand to welcome Francesca for her first public appearance in Oklahoma.

In 1953, the then 10-year-old Peevey sang the novelty hit, "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas." It led to a statewide fund drive in which children donated dimes to buy and bring a pachyderm to the zoo.

Watch: Oklahoma Zoo Gets A Hippopotamus For Christmas

Peevey also was there in December 1953 when the Nile hippopotamus Mathilda arrived.

“It was such a joy to be a part of bringing the first hippo to the Oklahoma City Zoo in 1953,” Peevey said in a release. “I never expected to play a part in announcing another hippo’s arrival 64 years later, but it’s been an absolute thrill to be involved with the Zoo all these years, to watch it grow and to see it thrive today.”

Francesca joins 43-year-old Wolee in the zoo's pachyderm exhibit.

Pygmy hippos are listed as endangered with fewer than 3,000 in the wild.

"Caretakers describe Franny as confident and calm with a love for carrots, yams, cucumbers and apples," the zoo said in a release.

Kevin Drees, director of animal collections, said hippos are an iconic part of the zoo’s legacy, and they're "excited for Wolee to have a new companion in Francesca.”

Lead photo credit: Gillian Lang via Oklahoma City Zoo