Thailand's pygmy hippo Moo Deng celebrates first birthday amid fading internet fame
First birthday of Thailand's pygmy hippo Moo Deng celebrated with four-day festivalhttps://t.co/ViO4M7kJWH pic.twitter.com/TQPz4X7tWx — AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 10, 2025
The young hippo, whose name translates to 'Bouncy Pork' in Thai, skyrocketed to fame last year and amassed over five million social media followers. Born at just 5kg, she now weighs 93kg and resides in a public enclosure that was once livestreamed around the clock to feed the internet's fascination.
Celebrations for her birthday included a $3,000 fruit-covered cake sponsored by a skincare brand and a themed lecture titled 'Moo Deng's cheekiness.'
Among those in attendance was Malaysian fan Jennifer Tang, who took a week off work to visit the zoo. She described Moo Deng as a 'chaos rage potato' and added, 'She's really special to me, she makes me happy.' Tang insisted the hippo remains 'sassy and funny' despite becoming more reserved with age.
Moo Deng's handlers noted the shift in her behavior as she matures. 'She used to be very naughty and jumped around all the time,' said handler Attaphol Nundee. 'Now she only eats and sleeps.' While they admit her popularity has slowed, fans—both old and new—still flock to see her.
As Moo Deng's playful days fade, experts suggest her waning popularity may reflect broader trends in internet virality. 'Maybe part of our appreciation of cuteness is knowing that it doesn't last very long,' said Joshua Paul Dale, a professor at Chuo University in Japan.
Though her fame may have peaked, Moo Deng remains an iconic figure of online animal stardom. Handlers have hinted that some of her belongings may soon be auctioned.
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