A zoo threw a food party to celebrate the seventh month of a baby pygmy hippo in Thailand.

The Khon Kaen Zoo in Khon Kaen province held the celebration on November 7 for its celebrity star Moo Duang - a 'relative' of the internet sensation Moo Deng from the Khao Keow Open Zoo.

Footage shows Moo Duang and his mother Yaya tucking into a hearty fruit and vegetable cake made of bok choy, carrots, punpkins, bananas, root crops, and bamboo shoots. Zookeepers also gifted the pair a new 'jacuzzi tub' in which they can soak on hot days.

Zoo director Tipawadee Kittikoon said Moo Duang was the zoo's main attraction, with many families visiting the hippo exhibit to see him in person.

She said: 'Even after the school break ended in November, Moo Duang continues to attract attention especially on the weekends. He was born on April 15 to his mother Yaya and his father Nadech and is now seven months old.'

She added that the zoo was making adjustments to Moo Duang's enclosure as he was growing at a rapid pace. Tourists can visit him daily at the Khon Kaen Zoo from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Other Thai zoos are following the baby pygmy hippo trend following the rise to fame of online darling Moo Deng.

Moo Deng is a three-month-old pygmy hippopotamus living at Khao Kheow Open Zoo. She was born on July 20, 2024, to her parents Tony and Jonah and was named Moo Deng, which means bouncy pig, through a public poll, with more than 20,000 people voting.

She drew crowds to the zoo after gaining popularity in September 2024 as a popular internet meme, following trending images of her emerging online.

Her fame surged when the zoo posted pictures of her on its Facebook page, showcasing her in funny gestures. Due to her popularity, the number of daily visitors to the zoo doubled in early September.

The Zoological Park Organization of Thailand reported that the number of tourists visiting reached 159,743, a significant increase from August's total of 98,046.

The pygmy hippopotamus is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List and is classified under Appendix II of CITES.

Pygmy hippos are small hippopotamids native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, primarily in Liberia, with small populations in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast.