Here in Sydney, 2024 was the year of metro mania, fangirl fever and, undeniably, of Moo Deng. But while Sydney’s social media users were going wild over a pygmy hippo in far-off lands, one ridiculously cute pygmy hippo was quietly going about her business right here in the Harbour City.
If you were considering booking a flight to Bangkok to see Thailand’s world-famous Moo Deng in the flesh, hold fire. Living the Mosman life at Sydney’s harbourside zoo, Lololi is the only pygmy hippo calf in Australia, and she’s celebrating her first birthday today.
Born on January 16 2024, Lololi (pronounced Lol-ol-i), was revealed to the adoring public on World Hippo Day (a thing) back on February 15, 2024. Weighing just 4kg when she was born, the teensy little thing has been gaining weight at a rapid pace, and celebrated her birthday this morning with a special breakfast with her mum, Kambiri.
Now exactly a year old, Lololi lives on Taronga’s Rainforest Trail, where she spends her days swimming around after a daily morning shower from her keepers – who potentially have the most-envied job in Sydney.
And while we’re not at liberty to choose which of these world-famous baby hippos is cuter, we’re willing to go on record claiming Lololi to have the cuter name. While Moo Deng means “bouncy pork” in Thai, Lololi is a West African term meaning "there is always love."
You can plan your trip to Taronga to see little Lololi IRL over here.
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