San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is one of the most celebrated zoos in the United States. It is one of only four U.S. zoos with giant pandas.

There are about 4,000 animals who make their home here. No, wait a moment. Let's make that 4,001. The new arrival is not a cuddly panda. Zhen Zhen was born here in 2007, and there haven't been any new, cuddly pandas since then. Nor is it a darling little koala bear.

The newest arrival is a not so cuddly--but very striking--hippo. Mom and her offspring have been inseparable since the little guy's birth a few months ago, That made it tough for San Diego zookeepers and veterinarians to determine the calf's sex, but they finally confirmed that the little guys is a boy. They have given him the name "Adhama," which means "Honor," or "Glory" in Swahili.

Adhama is the offspring of a male hippo, Otis and his sweetheart, Funami. It took the couple more than two years to procreate the new arrival, but you know how it is with hippos.

At first, Funami made it clear that she was wearing the pants in the fammily, but the couple eventually fell in love with each other, and the rest is zoo history.

The new hippo has three siblings, who were fathered by another male hippo, Jabba. Otis--the new male heartthrob--was taken off exhibit after Adhama was born because he has not fathered a calf at the San Diego Zoo and keepers did not know how he would react to a newborn.

But getting back to those cute koalas, among other interesting events the zoo schedules, there is hope the zoo will soon repeat a special "Koalapalooza," which was a big hit back in February. Visitors took a unique Aussie walkabout and met the zoo's koaqlas and other down-under animals.

Other fun events include kinder-nights and kinder-tots, where children get to see and learn about the zoo's animals up close.

There are also "Sunrise Surprise Strolls," where early risers can hear the latest updates on zoo residents as well as inside secrets and other behind the scene developments--all before the zoo officially opens in the morning.

At the end of the stroll, zoo keepers service breakfast muffins and coffee to their morning guests.

In addition to those 4,001 animals, the zoo also is an accredite botanical garden, with more than 700,000 plants from all over the world.