A six-year-old girl from Liverpool has received a memorable response from Thailand’s celebrity pygmy hippopotamus Moo Deng after sending a heartfelt fan letter to the popular animal.
The heartwarming exchange was shared on Aug 13 by Narongwit Chodchoy, director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri, who posted a photograph of the letter on Facebook. The young fan, Sophie, had mailed the letter from Liverpool on July 17.
In her message, Sophie introduced herself and shared her love for hippos while asking Moo Deng about her favourite colour and animal friends. She also mentioned her own friends, Ivy and Violet, before politely asking the zoo’s famous resident to write back.
The zoo responded by creating a special “signature” for Moo Deng. A behind-the-scenes video showed a keeper using ink to make a print from the base of the pygmy hippo’s tail directly onto Sophie’s letter.
Zoo staff also said the video would be emailed to Sophie as proof that the unusual signature was genuinely made using Moo Deng’s tail.
The response was written in the playful voice of Moo Deng, thanking Sophie for her letter and telling her that she has many animal friends at Khao Kheow Open Zoo.
Moo Deng also revealed that her favourite colour is pink and sent greetings to Sophie’s friends, Ivy and Violet, adding that she hoped the young fan would one day visit her in Thailand.
The final message came with an extra touch that is likely to delight the young Liverpool supporter, with Moo Deng “revealing” that she also cheers for Liverpool.
The sweet exchange has given Sophie a unique souvenir and offered another glimpse of the affection surrounding Moo Deng, whose playful personality has made her one of Thailand’s most recognisable animal stars.
