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Happy Birthday, Charlie...

Posted by
Judy aka L@dybug (Brooksville, FL, United States) on 18 February 2012 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

...we love you! ... (for our favorite son-in-law)
Enjoy PORGY & BESS!
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HOMOSASSA SPRINGS: Lu, resident hippopotamus at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, celebrated his 52nd birthday last month.
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Lu is an important part of the Florida state park system and attracts more than 300,000 visitors every year. An African Hippopotamus, Lu was born at the San Diego Zoo on January 26, 1960. He weighed 90 pounds at birth and now weighs more than 6,000 pounds. A vegetarian, Lu consumes 15 pounds of alfalfa hay, four scoops of herbivore diet and a five gallon bucket of vegetables and fruit every day.

PS: The unique designs on the wall are a subject for another day. Suffice it to say, Lu's tail makes them on a regular basis. ;D

SONY DSC-H5 1/250 second F/4.0 ISO 125 32 mm

Jan 1, 2018: Dementia was debilitating; he needed me 24/7. Mike died November 16, 2020.
* Update: Our youngest son (56) died Jan 5, 2022 from complications of diabetes.
David, Mike & Curtis are now together in peace.

* SPOTLIGHT IMAGES
* PORTFOLIO

* Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ... <)))><
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All images copyright ©JhClark 2021 - All Rights Reserved

Luke from Spokane Washington, United States

Wow, impressive teeth!

18 Feb 2012 6:29am

grouser from Ludlow, United Kingdom

wonderfully crisp portrait. Love the hairs on his back, wouldn't want to smell his breath though :)

18 Feb 2012 11:32am

@grouser: I don't know about his breath, but don't mess with his circling tail! ;D

franz from Baden, Austria

i take it this is the hippo's way of saying 'happy birthday' ... ;-))
excellent and quite impressive portrait !!!

18 Feb 2012 11:33am

@franz: Thanks, Franz!

Jen from Alpharetta, United States

This is fantastic!!!!

18 Feb 2012 1:23pm

Slackwater Don from Spokane, United States

What a great moment to capture. Excellent action shot.

18 Feb 2012 1:34pm

Ainsley from Derbyshire, United Kingdom

Wouldn't want to fall in to this mouth while he was taking a yawn. The compression must be amazing. Excellent timing here.

18 Feb 2012 2:16pm

@Ainsley: Thank you so much for your comment, Ainsley.

Eric Cousineau from Sherwood Park, Canada

That's quite the mouthful Lu! Happy Birthday! Nicely captured Judy! ;-)

18 Feb 2012 2:50pm

@Eric Cousineau: Thanks, Eric.

Nina from Hamburg, Germany

wow, great capture of that very interesting moment!

18 Feb 2012 4:26pm

@Nina: Thanks, Nina.

Mhelene from Paris, France

A superb and impressiv capture !

18 Feb 2012 5:19pm

Baldwin VW from Bejuma, Venezuela

Amazing "portrait", this is really a big mouth :-))) Nice capture !!!

18 Feb 2012 10:40pm

@Baldwin VW: Thank you, Baldwin.

Trina from Pennsylvania, United States

Excellent capture! What a mouth, huh?

20 Feb 2012 11:58am

@Trina: Thanks, Trina ... and yes, "what a mouth!"

Carol from United States

I've known Lu for 35 years probably....I hope he lives on forever.....we need to get back over there to see him again..,.a true icon.

24 Feb 2012 6:04pm

Nance E from Cary, United States

Great capture! We saw Lu back in 2003! We watched him eat watermelon - whole! Wonderful park!

3 Mar 2012 12:21am

@Nance E: Thank you, Nance ... I appreciate your comment!

SONY DSC-H5
1/250 second
F/4.0
ISO 125
32 mm

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