A hippo-sized birthday is approaching for the Denver Zoo’s oldest resident.
Bertie the hippopotamus will turn 57 this month, and the zoo plans to celebrate the milestone.
Not only is Bertie the zoo’s oldest resident, he is the second-oldest hippo in North America, according to zoo officials.
Bertie, known as Bert around the zoo, arrived from New York’s Central Park Zoo on Dec. 16, 1958, as a donation from Arthur E. and Helen Johnson, according to zoo officials.
A six-day celebration, featuring hippo demonstrations at 11 a.m. daily, will kick off Aug. 16. People named Bert — as well as Robert, Herbert, Bertha and such — will be admitted into the zoo for free.
Bertie, the father of every hippo calf born at the zoo, has sired 29 of them, according to zoo officials.
Bertie, who is one of the most documented animals at the zoo, has been featured in numerous news stories.
