Hippo birthday: Thai internet sensation Moo Deng turns ONE
Big crowds are expected at a four-day festival at Khao Kheow Open Zoo where Moo Deng – meaning 'Bouncy Pork' in Thai – frolicked to stardom and amassed five million social media followers.
The first day of the extravaganza fell on a Thai public holiday with an agenda including a lecture on 'Moo Deng's cheekiness', while a skincare beautician paid $3 000 to sponsor her 'birthday cake' made of an edible plant arrangement.
A small crowd of fans gathered outside her enclosure on Thursday morning – fewer than the hordes she commanded at the height of her fame, but still animated with adoration. Moo Deng's birthday cake was made of watermelon, corn, dragon fruit and tomato © Chanakarn Laosarakham / AFP
Visitor Jennifer Tang took a week off her work in Malaysia to make the pilgrimage, telling AFP she was 'a little bit obsessed' with the calf she described as a 'chaos rage potato'.
'She's really special to me, she makes me happy,' she said. Tang insisted Moo Deng is 'still really sassy and funny' despite approaching maturity.
'Take a look at the crowd today – she's still a legend,' she told AFP. Moo Deng merchandise on the shelves of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo's souvenir shop in Chonburi © Chanakarn Laosarakham / AFP
Moo Deng has swollen from 5kg (11 pounds) at birth to 93kg today.
She spent her birthday plodding in her enclosure and submerged in a pond – a stark contrast to her energetic yet clumsy antics as a pint-sized pachyderm.
'Moo Deng used to be very naughty and jumped around all the time,' said Attaphol Nundee, one of her six handlers.
'Now, she only eats and sleeps.'
'Her popularity has slowed,' admitted the 32-year-old.
'But some old fans have returned, and there are new ones too.'
Despite her waning fame, 'her eyes light up when people take photos of her', he said.
Moo Deng took only a few demure bites of her 'birthday cake' made of watermelon, corn, dragon fruit and tomato before her mother Joana devoured it almost in its entirety.
'She was kind of hesitant at first with the cake, so I was like, 'Oh my gosh, come on diva!',' said Molly Swindall, a TikTok influencer from the United States.
Hundreds of spectators queued for their allotted five-minute audience with Moo Deng at the Chonburi province zoo, a two-hour drive from Bangkok.
One eager fan took home Moo Deng's bathtub, which was auctioned off for around $3 000 to raise funds for the zoo.
Moo Deng's blubbery rose-blushed face launched a thousand memes and a plethora of merchandise, including piggy banks, party shirts and popsicles – prompting her owners to trademark her likeness. Visitors pose for photos with a Moo Deng mascot at Khao Kheow Open Zoo © Chanakarn Laosarakham / AFP
At one point, her popularity quadrupled ticket sales for the zoo where she resides in a sparse, stone, five square metre (54 square feet) public enclosure, once livestreamed 24/7.
There were hopes her stardom would spotlight the plight of the endangered pygmy hippo, native to West Africa with only around 2 500 left alive according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
But social media and search engine metrics suggest Moo Deng's popularity peaked around late September before dramatically declining.
'Maybe part of our appreciation of cuteness is knowing that it's something that doesn't last very long,' he told AFP.
Moo Deng is part of a pantheon of captive animals who have enjoyed flash-in-the-pan popularity online, including Australia's Pesto the penguin and China's Hua Hua the panda.
Pygmy hippos have a lifespan of between 30 and 50 years.
'Moo Deng won't be the most popular forever,' admitted her handler Attaphol.
'One day there will be a new generation of Moo Deng.'
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
28 minutes ago
- IOL News
EXCLUSIVE: My dad's legacy lives on through the IBA, says Muhammad Ali's daughter Rasheda
Rasheda Ali and her father, the great Muhammad Ali. Picture: AFP Image: AFP RASHEDA Ali was just three years old when her daddy, Muhammad Ali, stepped into the ring for arguably the most celebrated boxing bout of all time, 'The Rumble in the Jungle' on October 30, 1974, in Kinshasa. Ali's exceptional reflexes and athleticism were all brought to life on that fateful morning in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) through his lightning footwork, superior head movement, a unique low-hand guard, and the famous "rope-a-dope" technique. Rasheda's recollection of the actual fight is limited and based more on the black-and-white film tapes she's watched countless times. And while she still swoons over the beauty he portrayed in a sport that's infamous for its brutality, the recollection of her great father lies more in the legacy that he left outside of the ring. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'Yes, I think my dad has done so much while he was here on the earth. What he tried to do was, he tried to be an example of how we should treat each other. My dad was an advocate for, he was a champion, he was a peace ambassador, he was the greatest in the ring and also out,' Rasheda exclusively told Independent Media on the outskirts of the IBA's Golden Era launch in Istanbul. 'Because he really wanted people to love one another a lot more … 'Service to others' was one of my favourite quotes that he's ever made. Because the reality is, why are we all here? 'So when my dad stepped into a ring, he was also thinking of his brothers. And I think we should be hearing that a little bit more now, especially in this emotional climate, politically and physically.' Rasheda feels her dad's 'legacy lives on through the IBA', especially after IBA President President Umar Kremlev unveiled plans for the sport's 'Golden Era' with a bout arranged between America's Rob Morrow and Iran's Hasan Yousefi. 'Boxing is for peace. We are for peace," Kremlev said, with Rasheda concurring. 'Only Umar could bring two countries together and really try to promote peace and ambassadorship,' she said. 'And that's what my dad did while he was here and I think my dad's life and legacy carries on through the IBA. We can learn from my dad who really tried to bring people into the sport and he did that because he was so eloquent while he was in the ring. 'But also what he did outside the ring is what he's mainly notable for. And him being just an ambassador of peace, for him being someone who loved every single person regardless of their race, creed or color. 'Because I think that's kind of where Umar is trying to take the organization into a point where he's connecting with not just professional fighters but also amateur fighters and helping them and giving them an opportunity to not only fight but become champions within themselves.' Rasheda fondly remembers a trip to South Africa almost 20 years ago where she went to research another great patron of peace, and very good friend of her father, former State President Nelson Mandela. 'So back in 2006 I had a conference there (in Cape Town) and I brought my whole family,' she said. 'I brought my children and my husband there. And we got a chance to actually go to Robben Island, we actually toured Nelson Mandela's cell while we were there. 'Yes, we went to Robben and what we did was we were able to teach our children about what that meant and how small that cell was. And really what that meant and how Nelson suffered and really they learned a lot. I mean they learned a lot more being on that island than being in a classroom honestly.'
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Bryanston Sports Club pits their best potjies forward
There was no winter chill strong enough to dampen the spirit at Bryanston Sports Club on June 28, when locals gathered for a community potjie afternoon. The club grounds came alive with the comforting smells of meat, vegetables, and spices bubbling away in cast-iron pots, while old friends and new faces swapped stories around the fires. Also read: Discovery Padel Courts hosts exciting event for padel beginners For many, this event was a reminder that sometimes the best way to bring people together is with good, simple food cooked outdoors. Dorian Gordon, one of the competitors, said: 'It's not really about who makes the best potjie; it's about sharing a meal and feeling like you belong.' The turnout was one of the biggest, and the community kept the spirit alive throughout the cold day. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
eNCA
14 hours ago
- eNCA
The main moments of Paris Couture Week
Paris Haute Couture Week has wrapped up after four days of shows that featured the end of an era at Balenciaga, the start of a new one at Maison Margiela, and some surprise appearances and absences. AFP looks back on the key moments of the Autumn-Winter 2025-2026 season: - New eras - Demna bowed out at Balenciaga after a decade in charge with a show on Wednesday that drew the usual smattering of celebrities to the front rows but had some surprise models on the runway. Kim Kardashian channelled Elizabeth Taylor as she walked the room in a sultry slip dress, while veteran French actress Isabelle Huppert appeared in a turtleneck pulled up to her ears. Belgian Glenn Martens debuted at Maison Margiela the same day. Critics praised his bold first steps as a replacement for British design legend John Galliano, who stepped down in January. The New York Times called Martens' "Artisanal" collection, which included thrifted clothing, a "brilliant no-holds-barred debut" while Women's Wear Daily said it "tilted the Paris house in a dark, daring and DIY direction". - Armani's absence - One notably absentee was Giorgio Armani, 91, who had already cancelled his menswear show in Milan due to health reasons. AFP | Thomas SAMSON He also missed the Paris Armani Prive show on doctors' orders. "In 20 years of Armani Prive, it's the first time I'm not in Paris," he said in a statement sent to AFP. "My doctors advised more rest, even though I felt ready." He added that he had "followed and overseen every aspect of the show remotely", stressing: "I approved and signed off on everything you will see." - Cardi B's couture - New York rapper Cardi B had a busy week in Paris and seemed intent on out-couturing many of the models. AFP | Thomas SAMSON She appeared at the opening show of the week on Monday at Schiaparelli in a traf fic-stopping tasselled neckpiece and posed with a crow perched on her hand outside the Petit Palais exhibition space. The next day, she turned heads at Stephane Rolland, with a sculptural black headpiece that surrounded her like a religious shroud. On Wednesday she was front row at Balenciaga. - The rose trend - Floral patterns were everywhere, with the rose especially dominant. Giambattista Valli adorned airy gowns with oversized fabric roses, Elie Saab featured them on princess-style dresses, while Armani Prive used pearl-embroidered roses. Balenciaga incorporated rose sequin prints into a skirt suit and Robert Wun showcased black-and-white roses on a structured strapless crinoline dress. - Best of the rest - AFP | STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN Syrian designer Rami Al Ali made history as the first couturier from his country to take part in the official Paris calendar, choking back tears at the end of his show of exquisitely tailored pieces. Dutch duo Viktor & Rolf delivered a typically playful and sculptural spectacle, while Hong Kong's Robert Wun burnished his reputation further with some striking looks inspired by cinema and theatre. By Marine Do-vale And Adam Plowright
