This is the heartwarming moment a Thai boy with terminal cancer fulfilled his dying wish of seeing the famous pygmy hippo Moo Deng.

Chaturaphat Klaising, nicknamed 'Auto', 5, had long been a fan of the pygmy hippo star, even adorning his bedroom with Moo Deng plushies.

The youngster was taken by his family to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, where the hippo has become an online sensation for her amusing facial expressions.

Footage shows the Moo Deng superfan, who was battling lymphoma, wide-eyed as he finally met Moo Deng in person. He also got to feed capybaras and watch elephants swim in the zoo pool.

Moo Deng's handler said: 'Late last year, a group of doctors contacted us. They wanted to bring a five-year-old boy who was terminally ill with cancer. He absolutely loved the 'bouncing pig' and wanted to see Moo Deng one last time. As soon as I saw the message, I immediately informed the zoo director, who responded right away, saying they could come.

'So, the boy came shortly after the New Year. As you might know, at that time, the 'bouncing pig' exhibit was very popular and had long queues. However, we politely asked other tourists if the boy could skip the queue for a little and let him fully enjoy watching her.

'Normally, at that time of day, Moo Deng would already be in the water resting, but on that day, she stayed out for a very long time, until the boy left. We then took him to choose a souvenir. As you know, he really loved Moo Deng, but he ended up choosing a capybara to take home instead! We were so happy to be a part in bringing joy to him.'

Auto was diagnosed with lymphoma while being treated for an enlarged liver and spleen when he was a year old.

His family were hopeful when the disease appeared to go into remission during chemotherapy. However, they later found that the cancer had metastasized to his stomach, liver, spleen, lungs, and heart.

During medical treatment at home last year, Auto's doctors noticed the Moo Deng toys lining the boy's bedroom. Knowing he did not have long to live, they coordinated with zoo staff to arrange a special zoo trip for him as a New Year present on January 1.

Auto's mother said she was grateful to the zoo director, staff, and her son's doctors for helping grant his final wish.

She said: 'Even though Auto is in a better place now, there are still many people who love him. By now, he must be smiling.

'Thank you for making Auto's dream come true to become a celebrity. He always wanted to be like Zbing Z and Mr. Beast. Even though he has already left us, there are still people who show their love and affection in abundance.

'Lastly, I want to tell my Auto that I will love and miss you forever. Our family will never forget our great Auto, just like I told you to remember that everyone loves you. Time cannot take away my precious memories, and I hope that one day we will meet again.'

Moo Deng is a four-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.