Thailand’s tiny hippo star Moo Deng celebrates 1st birthday

A birthday bash fit for a queen — or at least a very cute hippo.

Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus born at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, turned one this week, and fans from around the world tuned in (and showed up) to celebrate. The star of the zoo marked the milestone with a towering birthday “cake” made of her favorite fruits and veggies, just steps away from her early birthday gift of a new play pool. There was also four days of festivities, photo ops, and animal-themed fun.

Her name Moo Deng, which means “red pork” in Thai, was chosen by public vote and nods to her reddish-brown coloring. Since her birth in July 2024 to parents Tony and Jona, Moo Deng has become a viral sensation thanks to her energetic personality and the playful videos shared by her caretakers. Clips of her splashing in her pool or chomping on melons have racked up millions of views all over social media.

More than 12,000 visitors came to the zoo during her birthday weekend. Children arrived in animal costumes, while fans from as far as the U.S. and Malaysia posed for selfies near her enclosure. The zoo even livestreamed the event for her international audience.

Pygmy hippos are much smaller than their river cousins and critically endangered, with fewer than 2,500 believed to remain in the wild. Moo Deng has become a symbol of hope for conservation efforts and a social media ambassador for her species.

“She’s become a bit of a national treasure,” one zookeeper said. “People just adore her.”

And with her birthday now a full-blown event, it seems Moo Deng’s reign as Thailand’s cutest celebrity is just beginning.

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