Moo Deng Celebrates Her First Birthday: Inside the 4-Day Bash Attracting Thousands
Moo Deng has marked a major milestone.
The world-famous pygmy hippo, who became a beloved internet fixture last year and even inspired a Bowen Yang impersonation on Saturday Night Live, celebrated her first birthday July 10, kicking off a four-day party at her home in Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo.
To commemorate the occasion, Moo Deng—whose name is Thai for “bouncy pork” or “bouncy pig”—will enjoy four days of events, including a 44-pound hippo-sized cake.
During the first day of celebration, thousands of the Moo Deng’s fans flocked to the zoo to witness the adorable hippo take a few naps, munch on watermelons and vegetables and enjoy a hose shower, according to NBC News.
The zoo—director Narongwit Chodchoy previously said has seen attendance quadrupled as a result of the animal’s popularity—also celebrated alongside their beloved friend by wishing her a happy birthday on social media.
“HBD bouncing pig,” the zoo wrote in a July 9 Instagram post translated from Thai. “Cute doesn't change at all. Since the first day until now, cute as before.”
Beyond the zoo’s love for Moo Deng, fans from across the world have flocked to Thailand to see the hippo for her big day, including TikToker Molly Swindall, who also helped make the animal’s birthday cake.
“She’s an icon and everyone in the world loves her,” Molly told NBC News. “It’s fun to see she’s her same old self. Fame hasn’t changed her.”
But what the U.S.-native—who has now traveled to Thailand three times to see the hippo—believes Moo Deng has changed are the world’s spirits.
“I love Moo Deng so much,” Molly continued. “I think she brought so much joy to people when there was a lot of toughness and there’s still a lot of tough things going on in the world.”
For more animals that celebs and the world have fallen in love with, keep reading…
(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
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