Moo Deng, the viral pygmy baby hippo, celebrated her first birthday on Thursday, July 10
The Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand kicked off the celebrations for their social media sensation with a four-day party and a 44-lb. cake made of fruit and vegetables
“She spent the whole day lumbering around, happy, moist and unbothered,” TODAY show correspondent Janis Mackey Frayer revealed
Moo Deng is celebrating a milestone!
The pygmy baby hippo marked her first birthday on Thursday, July 10, and was thrown a party fit for a viral social media sensation.
According to TODAY, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand, is celebrating the iconic animal with a four-day party and a 44-lb. cake made out of fruits and vegetables.
Thousands of fans visited the zoo on July 10 to get a peek of Moo Deng on her special day. Among them was TODAY correspondent Janis Mackey Frayer, who was reporting live from the animal park and shared insight into how the baby pygmy spent her first birthday.
“She spent the whole day lumbering around, happy, moist and unbothered,” said Mackey Frayer, 55,
“Wow! Well, enough about my weekend. That’s exactly how I’d like to spend my birthday,” joked Jenna Bush Hager in response.
TODAY went on to show their appreciation for Moo Deng by including her in the morning program’s beloved Smucker’s TODAY celebrates segment, which is usually reserved for humans celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. The famous hippo’s jam container appeared onscreen, labeled “Moo Deng Chonburi, Thailand 1 Year Old.”
Meanwhile, Moo Deng super fan Molly Swindall flew from New York to Thailand to celebrate Moo Deng’s first birthday at the zoo. She had the privilege of helping to make the animal’s birthday breakfast, which featured an array of different vegetables.
“She’s an icon and everyone in the world loves her,” Swindall, 24, told NBC News. “It’s fun to see she’s her same old self … Fame hasn’t changed her.”
“I love Moo Deng so much,” continued Swindall, who has now made three trips to Thailand to see Moo Deng. “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.”
Along with being happy, moist and unbothered, Moo Deng also spent the day taking a few naps, munching on watermelon, and being hosed down for a shower, during which she, of course, chewed on her caretaker’s knees, per NBC News.
Moo Deng, whose name translates to “bouncy pig,” went viral thanks to adorable posts on the zoo’s Instagram and TikTok accounts that showcased her sassy personality.