.png){kind=logo}
Move over, cat videos and dancing parrots, as Thailand’s taking over the internet with two of the cutest animal celebrities we’ve ever seen. First, we had Moo Deng, the adorable little pygmy hippo with a bouncy personality. And now, it’s Ava, the golden tiger, who’s stealing hearts around the world. At EcoPetEssentials, we love covering news about all kinds of cute animals, and that’s how we ended up with this blog talking. If you’re a fan of big cats and tiny hippos, then buckle up; this is going to be a wild (and fuzzy) ride.
We have to address the elephant in the room, in this case, the baby hippo. Moo Deng was born on July 10, 2024, at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Thailand. This four-month-old pygmy hippo quickly earned the nickname “bouncy pork” (yep, that’s what her name means in Thai!). She became an overnight star thanks to her shiny, slippery skin and joyful waddles. She may be small, but Moo Deng made a big splash, both literally and figuratively. The zoo saw a major jump in ticket sales (over 19 million baht in one month!). Moo Deng’s Instagram fame took off like a rocket, and her handle gathered over 600,000 fans in no time. She’s even been featured in memes, beauty ads, and Halloween costumes!
Just when we thought Thailand couldn’t get any cuter, along came Ava. Ava is a three-year-old golden tiger living at the Chiang Mai Night Safari in northern Thailand. She made her social media debut on November 19, 2024, and boom! The internet exploded with love. In just two days, Ava’s photos racked up over 34,000 likes and more than 24,000 shares. People on the internet simply couldn’t stop talking about her giant, fluffy face, creamy golden fur, and soft green eyes.
We can all agree that she’s beautiful and quite unique. Ava is part of a super unique group called golden tigers (also called strawberry tigers). Thanks to a special recessive gene, only around 30 golden tigers are known to exist in captivity. That makes Ava rarer than even white tigers!
You’ll be surprised to know that Ava isn’t the only golden tiger at the zoo. She has an equally fabulous sister named Luna, who made her public debut a few weeks earlier. The two sisters are like a tiger version of Disney royalty. Their parents are also golden tigers. They came from the Czech Republic and South Africa in 2015. So basically, this tiger family is international, glamorous, and super fluffy.
Let’s be honest: this isn’t a competition. However, if it were, it would be almost impossible to pick a winner. Moo Deng is all charm and wiggles, while Ava brings elegance, mystery, and goofy grins. Netizens are loving the glow-up of Thailand’s animal stars. One fan even commented, “First Moo Deng, now Ava? Thailand is winning the cutest animals award!” At EcoPetEssentials, we agree and definitely can’t get enough of these cute furry babies.
So, what makes Moo Deng and Ava so irresistible?
If you love animals (and who doesn’t?), Ava and Moo Deng are worth following. You’re in for a treat, whether you’re tuning in to Moo Deng’s livestream or planning a visit to Chiang Mai to see Ava in person. Moo Deng is a bouncing hippo who looks like a watermelon with legs. The other’s a tiger who looks like she takes bubble baths and drinks fancy water. The other’s a tiger who looks like she takes bubble baths and drinks fancy water. Together, they’re Thailand’s dream team of adorable. If you want more updates on adorable internet sensations, then you can bookmark EcoPetEssentials, as we love covering wildly cute animal content.
Maya Fields is passionate about animals and saving the earth. She writes to help pet owners make smart choices with proper Care & Products! From healthy treats to earth-safe toys, she believes every pet deserves love and care. Maya wants everyone to enjoy life with pets by choosing the right products.
