Four‑day festival began on a Thai public holiday, drawing 100 gathered fans outside her enclosure.
Event schedule included a lecture titled “Moo Deng’s Cheekiness” and a skincare sponsor paid $3,000 for a fruit‑covered birthday cake.
Moo Deng, a name meaning “Bouncy Pork” in Thai, grew from 5 kg at birth to 93 kg today.
Adoption of Fans and Visitors
Jennifer Tang, a Malaysian musician, took a week off her work to attend the ceremony, describing the hippo as a “chaos‑rage potato.”
Handler Attaphol Nundee, who manages the six‑handed team, noted the calf has shifted from playful antics to a calmer routine of eating and sleeping.
Despite the decline of online buzz, the hippo’s gaze lights up whenever people photograph her, preserving its charm for devoted supporters.
No‑Long‑Lasting Fame and Merchandise
Externally, Moo Deng’s smiley face sparked a wave of memes and merchandise such as piggy banks, party shirts, and popsicles—officially trademarked by the zoo owners.
The hippo’s existence has quadrupled ticket sales for the small, stone‑enclosed viewing area—only 54 ft².
Online metrics suggest popularity peaked in late September last year and has since decreased, echoing the fleeting nature of cuteness.
Future Outlook and Conservation Context
While the hippo has no longevity of internet fame, the zoo hopes her story brings attention to the endangered pygmy hippo—native to West Africa, with only approximately 2,500 left alive worldwide.
Researcher Joshua Paul Dale of Chuo University comments that “cuteness” is often admired precisely because it is not eternal.
Handlers believe a new generation may continue to carry the legacy of Moo Deng, ensuring the appeal of captive animals remains dynamic.
