Thailand's oldest captive hippopotamus marked her 58th birthday with a festive party at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi.

Zookeepers organised a three-day event with fun activites for tourists to celebrate the senior hippo named Mae Mali's long life.

The celebration began on September 8, with a huge spread of fruits offered to Mae Mali as staff and attendees sang her a happy birthday.

Zoo director Tawin Rattanawongsawat said Mae Mali is believed to be the oldest hippopotamus in captivity in Thailand.

He said: 'She is a beloved animal here at the zoo and is among children's favourites for multiple generations.'

An exhibit showcasing Mae Mali's history was also opened, while visitors who were also born on September 8 received special prizes.

Mae Mali was born on September 8, 1966, at the Koelner Zoo in Cologne, Germany.

She arrived in Thailand from the Tilburg Zoo in the Netherlands on June 8, 1967, when she was just a year old.

Later on, Mae Mali was relocated to Khao Kheow Open Zoo on December 18, 2018, from the Dusit Zoo in Bangkok.

The hippo has had 14 calves and remains in good health, zookeepers said.

The world's oldest known zoo hippo is named Bertha, who was kept at the Manila Zoo in the Philippines. She died in captivity at 65 years old.