The Hippolotofus visited Lu in October 2005, during the Hippopalooza Reunion in Tampa. Dozens of members toured the park, then had a special visit with Lu, during which the staff let us feed her. Now Florida author JG Annino has a featured section on Lu in her new book "Florida's Famous Animals".
From the press release . . .
| Due to the lively quotations of member
CJ (Lynne) Clarke of Leesburg, Florida, her state’s beloved Lu, the hippo,
is included among 13 animals profiled in a new nonfiction book,
FLORIDA’s FAMOUS ANIMALS.
"Since every fabulous animal in this critter-full state couldn’t be included, I sought out stories of animal-human interaction that tugged at the heart strings," said the author, JG Annino. "When I found out that A) the Town of Homosassa worked to keep Lu there, all the way up to the Governor and that B) Lu still had such a loyal fan base represented by my enthusiastic interviews with CJ Clarke, I knew Lu was a shoo-in for this book." The chapter, "Lu: Town Hippo", features a big, beautiful black and white photo of him where he lives at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, sidebars on how to visit him, the website for our club and much more, including quotations from CJ and mention of her grandson Miles Gray Clarke, whom CJ brought to meet Lu. FLORIDA’S FAMOUS ANIMALS is $9.95 from www.globepequot.com and you can also order it via 888.249.7586. If you look for it at your library, the isbn # is 978.0.7627.4136.6. The author also mentions Lu on her blog, About Animals at bookseedstudio.wordpress.com.
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