CEDAR CREEK, Texas -- Texas's most famous hippo is taking over the internet again. After helping one couple reveal their baby's gender, Tank the hippo is back in action. This time, he's looking for love.
- Tank the hippo looking for love
- Female hippos in short supply in the United States
"He wants a girlfriend," exclaimed Michael Hicks of the Capital of Texas Zoo. He's known Tank since the hippo was a baby.
Now, at 8 years old, aside from good looks and plenty of love handles, Hicks said Tank has quite the personality.
"Tank is a very sweet boy, but he's a bull hippo. See, that's him right now begging for food," Hicks said, laughing.
But when it comes to matters of the heart, it’s no laughing matter.
"We just think it would be cool to have a female hippo and little baby Tanks running around,” Hicks said. “We want to give our animals companions whenever it's possible."
So, he decided to play wingman.
Then, one famous female hippo caught Tank's eye--Fiona of the Cincinnati Zoo. But, he has competition.
"We noticed the male hippo from San Antonio, Timothy, had been writing her letters. So, Tank asked me if I would write her a letter too,” Hicks said. “So, we wrote a 'Dear Fiona' letter proposing matrimony. We haven't heard from her yet."
Believe it or not, Tank's prospects are slim. There are not very many female hippos in the U.S.
"We may have to get one from another country. I don't know if you've heard of the famous Pablo Escobar hippos down in Colombia. I've actually been talking to the Colombian fish and game down there. We might actually bring in a young female hippo from that herd,” Hicks said.
"A young, pretty female hippo of any kind I think Tank will be more than happy with," Hicks said.
It doesn't sound like he's asking for much but for the right hippo, Tank is willing to wait.
"Hippos live 50 years, he's got plenty of time," Hicks added.
After all, even for hippos, love is patient.
To start out Tank's relationship right, the Capital of Texas Zoo set up a GoFundMe page for his pen upgrades. That includes a barn with two stalls fit for two hippos--and maybe a third.
If you’d like to donate, click here.