She's one of the oldest hippos in the country and she lives right here in Hawaii, at the Honolulu Zoo. Cleopatra is her name and she celebrated her 52nd birthday last month. Her zoo keepers say she is the fifth oldest Hippo in the nation and doing well.

Hippopatamus means "river horse" in Greek and in short distances they've been known to outrun man. Cleo and her keeper joined Ramsay Wharton this morning for the Morning Zoo segment.

Don't be fooled by a hippo's slow, even docile demeanor, they're considered one of Africa's most dangerous animals. The grass eaters don't hunt humans but vigorously defend their land and water territory which has led to many deaths in Africa.

These amphibious creatures enjoy submerging themselves in water to keep cool. The water also helps relieve their heavy load. Cleo's keepers say she weighs more than two tons, or 4,000 pounds.

They can stay underwater for up to six minutes, Cleo's keepers say she usually stays down for about three. Her large teeth, which are called tusks, help her grind up her grassy meals, which at the zoo consists of Alfalfa and other grasses and nutrients.

Related Links:

• www.honoluluzoo.org

---