A three-year-old golden tiger at a Thai zoo has become a sensation, rivalling baby hippo Moo Deng, after her online debut on November 19. Photo: - SCMP composite/IG@immoodeng/facebook_Chiang Mai Night Safari
BEIJING (SCMP): An adorable three-year-old golden tiger at a Thai zoo has emerged as the newest sensation, rivalling the baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng, after her online debut on November 19.
The Chiang Mai Night Safari in northern Thailand shared photos of the golden tabby tiger named Eva on its Facebook page, garnering 34,000 likes and 24,000 shares within just two days.
Eva made her entrance three weeks after her sister Luna, even though both were born on February 16, 2021.
Their parents were brought to the safari park from the Czech Republic and South Africa in July 2015.
The zoo introduced their species as golden tigers, a rare variant of the Bengal tiger characterised by a recessive colour-changing gene.
Many have been captivated by Eva’s gentle, fluffy appearance and her charming expressions. - Photo: Chiang Mai Night Safari
It is estimated that only around 30 golden tigers exist in captivity worldwide, significantly fewer than the 200 white tigers, which are also Bengal or Siberian tigers with a rare colour mutation.
Visitors can now see Eva and Luna at the safari park’s Tiger World zone between 11am and 2pm.
Their caretakers describe Eva as playful and sociable, noting her friendly nature towards children, which stands in stark contrast to the species’ reputation as fierce predators.
Many have been enchanted by Eva’s soft, fluffy appearance and her “goofy” expressions.
“Her face is so sweet,” one commenter noted on Facebook.
“She looks so clean, as if she takes 10 baths a day,” another remarked.
“First Moo Deng, now Eva? Thailand is winning the cutest animals award,” a user commented on Instagram.
Moo Deng may be small, but her vibrant personality has significantly boosted the zoo’s ticket sales and inspired a wave of products and parodies around the globe. - Photo: Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha
The baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng, who lives in Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, eastern Thailand, has been an international sensation since September.
Her popularity boosted the zoo’s ticket sales to 19.2 million baht (US$587,000) between September 1 and 25, and helped the Instagram account dedicated to the hippo family amass 614,000 followers.
Moo Deng has also inspired various products and parodies worldwide, including a beauty product advertisement by Sephora featuring its blush products, American comedian Bowen Yang’s hippo costume for Saturday Night Live, and numerous cute cartoons and memes shared by online observers.
The zoo offers a 24/7 live-stream of Moo Deng’s quarters, allowing fans worldwide to watch the little “bouncy pork” – the meaning of her name in Thai – grow day by day.
Born on July 10 to parents Tony and Jonah, Moo Deng is now four months old. - South China Morning Post/ANN
