Thousands of enthusiastic fans gathered at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo on Thursday to celebrate the first birthday of Moo Deng, a beloved baby pygmy hippopotamus who has taken social media by storm.
The zoo, located about two hours from Bangkok, kicked off a four-day birthday celebration with free entry for children under 12. The festivities drew huge crowds, with zoo officials confirming that more than 12,000 people visited on the first day.
Fans Fly in from Around the World
Among Moo Deng’s global admirers was Molly Swindall from New York, who flew to Thailand just to attend the event. “I had a few days off work and thought, ‘Why not?’ Even if it’s only for 30 hours, it’s worth it to see Moo Deng,” she said. Swindall was seen handing a breakfast tray to Moo Deng’s keeper, which the hippo shared with her mother, Jona.
The baby hippo remained calm in her pond as visitors took pictures and sang “Happy Birthday.” A cake made of fruits and vegetables was placed beside her enclosure, adding to the festive mood.
“She’s my happy pill, my energy pill, my curing pill—she’s my vitamin!” said Thea Chavez, who came from Houston, Texas. Jennifer Tang, who traveled from Malaysia, said, “Whenever I’m stressed at work, I just look at Moo Deng’s photos. My entire office knows I’m here—they gave me a week off!”
Birthday Auctions and Fan Activities
To mark the occasion, the zoo held online auctions featuring Moo Deng’s photos, footprints, and feeding bowls, raising funds to support animal care. Sponsorship of her birthday cake was auctioned off for 100,000 baht (around $3,065).
From Viral Star to Symbol of Conservation
Moo Deng rose to fame soon after birth thanks to her keeper, Atthapon Nundee, who regularly shares heartwarming videos of her on social media—from playful biting to belly rubs.
Her name, “Moo Deng,” which means “bouncy pork” in Thai, was chosen through an online poll. It follows the zoo’s naming theme, matching her siblings Moo Toon (stewed pork) and Moo Waan (sweet pork), and another resident hippo named Kha Moo (stewed pork leg).
Though the zoo experienced a surge in visitors after Moo Deng's birth, the current turnout has normalized to around 2,000 visitors on weekdays and 5,000 on weekends—roughly half of the earlier peak, said zoo director Narongwit Chodchoy.
“Moo Deng is more than just a social media star—she’s a voice for endangered wildlife,” Narongwit said. “She’s helping people understand the vital role zoos play in conservation.”
The 800-hectare zoo houses more than 2,000 animals and runs breeding programs for several endangered species, including the pygmy hippopotamus, which is native to West Africa and critically threatened due to poaching and habitat loss. Only 2,000–3,000 are estimated to remain in the wild.