My love of Fiona the hippo is known far and wide, but there is a new baby on the horizon that has the country talking. His name is Mars, a pygmy hippo who lives with his mother, Posie, at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas.

The park has an Oklahoma connection: hoofstock supervisor Sierra Smith is originally from Tahlequah.

"Oh, yep, Oklahoma native through and through. I miss and love Oklahoma so, so much," Smith said.

She discovered the park during a high school visit and later took an internship, which led to her current role.

Smith is now a park supervisor, where she supervises six to seven keepers, 22 giraffes, and many other animals.

"A herd of breeding bongos, the pygmy hippos, Indian rhinos, white rhinos, all kinds of hoofstock animals and primates," she added. "I get

See Full Page