Bruno Lowagie's presentation for ZooCamp 2009 in Antwerp. It's a true story of a hippo on Netlog, Facebook and YouTube.

1. A Hippopotamus for Christmas
A true story about a hippo
on Netlog, YouTube and Facebook
Bruno Lowagie @ ZooCamp 2009

2. February 2008
I'm lost for words...
Ik kan er niet over schrijven.
Yet words are all I have.
Ik kan er niet niet over schrijven.
What else can I do to help him?
Ik weet het niet, ik weet het echt niet...

3. Bad, bad news…
Your son has Cancer…

4. The protocol

5. A Helping Hippo

6. The operation

7. Brul gets surgery

8. A Hippo Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NCDtlSNm0k

9. Hippo Song 2

10. Hello,
Paincakes fanmail I wanted to send you a little mail to thank you for recording quot;I
want a hippopotamus for Christmas.quot; My son (almost 12) has
Cancer (Osteosarcoma) and he has a little stuffed hippo that
has become very important during the long treatment.
We play your version of quot;I want a hippopotamus for Christmasquot;
every time we celebrate something. For instance: we've just
had the news that he can go home from the hospital for the
weekend. On such an occasion I play the song on my
portable computer and my son lets his stuffed hippo dance
to it. He can't use his left leg due to the Cancer, so he lets his
hippo do all the things he can't do anymore.
This is just a little mail from a father, a son and his hippo to tell
you that we are fans!
Thanks again,
Bruno, Inigo and Brul

11. Bruno,
Thank you so much for your message. Your email and blog entry
Paincakes answer were very touching. It is very nice to know that something
we did for fun has now taken on so much meaning in your
lives.
One of the first thoughts that entered my mind after reading the
blog entry was that there may be a way to get Inigo a
hippopotamus for Christmas. I know many zoo's in the
United States have adoption or sponsorship programs to help
fund the care of animals. For a donation that goes towards
feeding and taking care of an animal, the zoo will send a
picture and information about the animals they are adopting
or sponsoring. I would imagine that it may be a possibility at
a zoo near you as well. If possible, myself and my friends in
the quot;bandquot; would like to find a way to make this happen.
Please let me know what you think of the idea. Again, thank you
for your email. My best wishes to you and your family. I hope
Inigo has a quick recovery.
Sincerely,
Erik J. Koppin

12. Netlog: Clan Brul

13. Hippe Hermien

14. Hippopotamusses

15. Brul is popular

16. Brul on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUPKUGT9yiA

17. Brul’s Newspaper

18. Key chains

19. Cool T-Shirts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLe3AxKKpxU

20. Free Flyers

21. Brul in De Tijd
Oktober 2008

22. Brul on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48050780329

23. Brul & his T-shirts

24. T-Shirt mania

25. Christmas present

26. Closing event:
dog walk

27. Extra money

28. Visiting Hermien
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ7H6-C22OQ

29. Inigo is happy

30. Thank you!
Questions are welcome