The Zoo’s newest “weighty” endeavor opened May 27, 1995—Hippo Beach, featuring river hippos Jabba and Funani in their state-of-the-art, 150,000-gallon pool! Visitors could see the huge stars of this summer’s sensation from above the water (above) and below (left), with a 105-foot-long observation window to bring people and hippos nose to snout. It was a fantastic view of a fascinating species, and Hippo Beach very quickly became a huge success. To complete the fun, playful, beach theme, the Zoo commissioned sand sculptors to create a pod of 12 whimsical hippos to oversee the proceedings (left).