Moo Deng, the popular pygmy hippo, will turn one year old on June 10, prompting Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo to plan a three-day birthday event.
The zoo’s festivities include a Moo Deng-themed art exhibition, a photo gallery, a parade of animal mascots, and a giant cake for the hippo.
Moo Deng gained widespread internet attention last year through viral photos and videos, attracting visitors from around the world. The zoo’s viral sensation inspired an unofficial Solana meme coin named after her.
According to CoinGecko, the Solana-based Moo Deng token surged 32.9% on Thursday, reaching a market cap of $183 million following the birthday announcement. The token previously saw dramatic fluctuations, peaking at over $700 million in mid-November 2024 after listings on major exchanges, then experiencing steep declines and rebounds.
Interest in Moo Deng has reignited with the upcoming celebration. Reports indicate the U.S. embassy in Thailand sent a gift to the hippo, although the zoo has not yet opened it.
Other tokens related to Moo Deng showed smaller gains: the Ethereum-based token rose 5.6% to $11.8 million, and the Sui-based Sudeng token jumped 13.9% to $18.9 million.