Photo courtesy of Metro Richmond Zoo
Poppy and Iris relax in the Hippo Haven habitat at the Metro Richmond Zoo.
Sunny spring weather is attracting crowds of students and families to the Metro Richmond Zoo, where the main attraction these days is Poppy, the baby Pygmy Hippo. Poppy began enjoying time outdoors for the first time on March 28, in the Hippo Haven habitat which features a pool and yard.
The 150-acre zoo is a 2.5-hour drive from Alexandria, located at 8300 Beaver Bridge Road, in Moseley, Va., about 20 miles southwest of Richmond. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Sundays. Tickets to the private zoo are $26.95 for ages 12-59; $25.95 for ages 60-plus; $19.95 for ages 2-11 and free for ages 1 and younger.
Photo courtesy of the Metro Richmond Zoo
Poppy and Iris go for a swim in the Hippo Habitat at the Metro Richmond Zoo.
"Since Poppy was introduced to the world, she has gathered a strong social media following with loyal fans from around the globe," Metro Richmond Zoo stated in a recent news release. "Poppy’s fans are the happiest, kindest and most dedicated people. We have loved meeting them as they visited the zoo from various states, including New York, Florida, Texas, California, Washington and Alaska. We are thrilled that Poppy’s fans can now see her daily in her outdoor habitat."
During a visit there April 9, we observed Poppy swimming with her mother Iris while school children ooh’d and aah’d over every antic, including both hippos wiggling their ears whenever they surfaced from their pool outdoors and floating through the water past an observation window.
From an observation deck, zoo visitors can watch the mother and four-month old daughter, born Dec. 9, in their habitat. They swim in their pool and frolick in the yard. Zoo-goers can also watch them through a window, while they swim underwater.
The baby hippo has gained 65 pounds since her birth, when she weighed 15 pounds. Now weighing in at 80 pounds, she enjoys a diet of grains, hay, vegetables (broccoli, sweet potatoes, celery and lettuce) and sometimes bananas and apples.
The Pygmy hippo species is a reclusive, nocturnal animal that is native to the swamps and rivers of West Africa and can live up to 55 years.
Poppy and Iris aren’t the only attractions at the zoo. You can also feed a family of giraffes, watch monkeys swing from branch to branch, see chimpanzees sun themselves on an island and ostriches and peacocks strut through the grass. In all, the zoo is home to 2,000 animals, representing 190 species.
The 150-acre zoo is a 2.5-hour drive from Alexandria located at 8300 Beaver Bridge Road, Moseley, Va., about 20 miles southwest of the capital. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Sundays. Tickets are $26.95 for ages 12-59; $25.95 for ages 60-plus; $19.95 for ages 2-11 and free for ages 1 and younger.
The privately owned and operated zoo got its start April 22, 1995, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The zoo’s only funding comes from admission, a gift shop and cafe sales and does not receive any government funding. The zoo is hosting a Run Wild Race in May with proceeds benefiting endangered pygmy hippos like Poppy.
Dining
If you have time for a late lunch or early dinner, you can venture into The Fan District on your way back to Alexandria. The area is dotted with grand Queen Anne-style homes and Tudor Revival mansions, including the Branch Museum of Architecture and Design, which offers tours. Mom 'n pop shops and restaurants line the streets. The Fan gets its name from the "fan" shape of the array of streets that extend west from Belvedere Street.
We got street parking and stopped in at the Blue Habanero, 421 Strawberry St., which features 19 variations of street tacos. Each order comes with three tacos, along with your choice of different types of beans and rice. We tried the Tacos de Carnitas ($14) that were delicious and filling (we took one of the tacos home). We also tried the Trio Sampler (chips and salsa that comes with guacamole, salsa and quest). Yelp reviewers give Blue Habanero 4.3 stars out of 5 from 309 reviews.
Afterward, you can stop by Scoop, 403 Strawberry St., for ice cream, a few doors down, before heading home. The small batch ice cream shop makes its own ice cream and baked goods. Scoop has a 4.6 rating from 264 reviews on Yelp.
