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he Cincinnati Zoo is using the third birthday of its beloved hippo, born premature, as a way to raise money for Australian wildlife affected by the recent bushfires.
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Instead of sending birthday gifts for Fiona, the Ohio zoo is asking people to buy T-shirts that will directly benefit the Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund. The shirt features a koala and kangaroo giving Fiona a hug and says ``Supporting Our Friends Down Under.''
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All proceeds from sales of the shirts will be sent to Zoos Victoria to help them care for suffering animals.
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The zoo will add $5,000 to the total amount raised.
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Fiona became a global celebrity after she was born on Jan. 24, 2017, weighing in at just 29 pounds (13 kilograms).
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The normal range for a hippo's birth weight is 55 to 120 pounds (25 to 55 kilograms).
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Fiona now weighs a healthy 1,300 pounds (590 kilograms), according to the zoo.
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"Fiona won the hearts of Cincinnatians when she fought to survive after being born six weeks early and terribly underweight,'' Cincinnati Zoo director Thayne Maynard said.
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"Three years later, people all over the world are still crazy about this normal, healthy hippo.''
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