• Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo, celebrates her first birthday in Thailand with a four-day festival.
• She has amassed five million social media fans since her birth.
• Visitors enjoyed numerous activities, including auctions of Moo Deng's memorabilia for wildlife conservation.
• Moo Deng's popularity peaked shortly after her birth, yet efforts continue to raise awareness about endangered pygmy hippos.
• The celebration included more than 12,000 fans flocking to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo.

Thailand's beloved baby pygmy hippo, Moo Deng, celebrated her first birthday at Khao Kheow Open Zoo on July 10, 2025. The festivities kicked off a four-day event that attracted hordes of fans eager to wish the adorable hippo a happy birthday. Moo Deng, whose name translates to "Bouncy Pork" in Thai, became an internet sensation shortly after her birth, amassing over five million followers on social media due to her charming antics and rosy cheeks, leading to a spike in zoo attendance and engagement, according to South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, and Bangkok Post.

The first day of the festival aligned with Asalha Puja, a Thai public holiday, and included a variety of activities such as a lecture on "Moo Deng’s cheekiness," a charity auction, and a parade. Fans could also purchase merchandise featuring Moo Deng's likeness, while a skincare beautician sponsored her elaborate fruit-themed birthday cake worth 100,000 baht, highlighting the hippo’s enduring charm and the creativity of her fans, reports Reuters, India Times, and CBS News.

A notable aspect of the event was the presence of international fans, such as Molly Swindall, who flew in from New York, expressing her dedication to Moo Deng. "I just loved her so much, and decided... I can make it work to fly to Thailand," she stated. As many as 12,000 visitors attended the celebration on the first day, though participation numbers have declined since Moo Deng's meteoric rise to fame last year, according to zoo director Narongwit Chodchoy, as reported by HuffPost, NPR, and NPR.

Throughout the events, Moo Deng's handlers aimed to raise awareness about the endangered pygmy hippo species, native to West Africa, where only about 2,500 remain. As Moo Deng continues to capture hearts around the world and generate conversations regarding wildlife conservation, her legacy appears set to inspire future generations about endangered species and the vital conservation efforts surrounding them, as per Bangkok Post, HuffPost, and NPR.