Photo Gallery: L.A. Zoo’s new behind the scenes hippo encounter
Los Angeles Zoo animal keeper Jen Gruenwald, behind, keeps a close eye on children touching Mara the hippo during the L.A. Zoo’s new, Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter media preview day at the L.A. Zoo in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter can be experienced weekends and holidays at noon. The hands-on experience with small groups allows people to go behind the scenes for about 20 minutes and stand very close to 12-yr. old Mara and her 15-month old baby Rosie. Guests can see them being fed and can even touch their cool smooth skin as they learn all about the hippos. There is an additional fee above the entrance fee to the zoo for this experience. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
Media guests got a close up view of 12-year old Mara the hippo, left, and her 15-month old baby Rosie, right, during the L.A. Zoo’s new, Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter media preview day at the L.A. Zoo in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter can be experienced weekends and holidays at noon. The hands-on experience with small groups allows people to go behind the scenes for about 20 minutes and stand very close to 12-yr. old Mara and her 15-month old baby Rosie. Guests can see them being fed and can even touch their cool smooth skin as they learn all about the hippos. There is an additional fee above the entrance fee to the zoo for this experience. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
Media guests get a close up view of Mara the hippo’s teeth during the L.A. Zoo’s new, Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter media preview day at the L.A. Zoo in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter can be experienced weekends and holidays at noon. The hands-on experience with small groups allows people to go behind the scenes for about 20 minutes and stand very close to 12-yr. old Mara and her 15-month old baby Rosie. Guests can see them being fed and can even touch their cool smooth skin as they learn all about the hippos. There is an additional fee above the entrance fee to the zoo for this experience. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
Guests get a close up view of 12-year old Mara the hippo’s skin and are able to touch it as well uring the L.A. Zoo’s new, Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter media preview day at the L.A. Zoo in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter can be experienced weekends and holidays at noon. The hands-on experience with small groups allows people to go behind the scenes for about 20 minutes and stand very close to 12-yr. old Mara and her 15-month old baby Rosie. Guests can see them being fed and can even touch their cool smooth skin as they learn all about the hippos. There is an additional fee above the entrance fee to the zoo for this experience. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
With animal keeper Jen Gruenwald close by at right, guests get a close up view of Mara the hippo during the L.A. Zoo’s new, Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter media preview day at the L.A. Zoo in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter can be experienced weekends and holidays at noon. The hands-on experience with small groups allows people to go behind the scenes for about 20 minutes and stand very close to 12-yr. old Mara and her 15-month old baby Rosie. Guests can see them being fed and can even touch their cool smooth skin as they learn all about the hippos. There is an additional fee above the entrance fee to the zoo for this experience. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
After spending some time with guests behind the scenes, Rosie the baby hippo relaxes on fresh alfalfa after the L.A. Zoo’s new, Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter media preview day at the L.A. Zoo in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter can be experienced weekends and holidays at noon. The hands-on experience with small groups allows people to go behind the scenes for about 20 minutes and stand very close to 12-yr. old Mara and her 15-month old baby Rosie. Guests can see them being fed and can even touch their cool smooth skin as they learn all about the hippos. There is an additional fee above the entrance fee to the zoo for this experience. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
After eating, Mara the hippo leads her daughter Rosie, rear, out to their enclosure during the L.A. Zoo’s new, Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter media preview day at the L.A. Zoo in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter can be experienced weekends and holidays at noon. The hands-on experience with small groups allows people to go behind the scenes for about 20 minutes and stand very close to 12-yr. old Mara and her 15-month old baby Rosie. Guests can see them being fed and can even touch their cool smooth skin as they learn all about the hippos. There is an additional fee above the entrance fee to the zoo for this experience. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
Fifteen-month old Rosie the hippo seems unconcerned about guests watching her feed during the L.A. Zoo’s new, Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter media preview day at the L.A. Zoo in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter can be experienced weekends and holidays at noon. The hands-on experience with small groups allows people to go behind the scenes for about 20 minutes and stand very close to 12-yr. old Mara and her 15-month old baby Rosie. Guests can see them being fed and can even touch their cool smooth skin as they learn all about the hippos. There is an additional fee above the entrance fee to the zoo for this experience. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
Media guests get a close up view of Mara the hippo’s teeth during the L.A. Zoo’s new, Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter media preview day at the L.A. Zoo in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter can be experienced weekends and holidays at noon. The hands-on experience with small groups allows people to go behind the scenes for about 20 minutes and stand very close to 12-yr. old Mara and her 15-month old baby Rosie. Guests can see them being fed and can even touch their cool smooth skin as they learn all about the hippos. There is an additional fee above the entrance fee to the zoo for this experience. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
Media guests get a close up view of Mara the hippo’s sweat, which acts like sunblock, during the L.A. Zoo’s new, Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter media preview day at the L.A. Zoo in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter can be experienced weekends and holidays at noon. The hands-on experience with small groups allows people to go behind the scenes for about 20 minutes and stand very close to 12-yr. old Mara and her 15-month old baby Rosie. Guests can see them being fed and can even touch their cool smooth skin as they learn all about the hippos. There is an additional fee above the entrance fee to the zoo for this experience. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)
ABC7 reporter Rob Hayes gets a close up view of Mara the hippo’s teeth during the L.A. Zoo’s new, Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter media preview day at the L.A. Zoo in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The Behind the Scenes Hippo Encounter can be experienced weekends and holidays at noon. The hands-on experience with small groups allows people to go behind the scenes for about 20 minutes and stand very close to 12-yr. old Mara and her 15-month old baby Rosie. Guests can see them being fed and can even touch their cool smooth skin as they learn all about the hippos. There is an additional fee above the entrance fee to the zoo for this experience. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)