Terminally ill Thai boy gets final wish to see viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng

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Despite facing a heartbreaking battle against terminal cancer, a young Thai boy of six years old, managed to make his most cherished dream come true – he got to meet Moo Deng, the endearing pygmy hippo, in real life, before saying goodbye to this world.

In the year 2024, Moo Deng (meaning ‘bouncy pork’ in Thai), captivated social media platforms, and it’s easy to understand why. This charming hippo, born at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo in July, quickly won hearts with her playful and mischievous behavior, making her a beloved figure among visitors.

In just a short time, pictures and clips of the young creature became widely popular, causing twice as many people to visit the zoo. To this day, Deng is still recognized and adored, even though she’s grown slightly. She continues to be an undeniable star, captivating hearts worldwide through the internet.

In fact, she’s so famous that one Thai boy’s last wish in his life was to see her in-person.

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A post shared by ขาหมู แอนด์เดอะแก๊ง (@khamoo.andthegang)

Thai zoo helps terminally ill boy see Moo Deng as his last wish

Little Nong Auto, aged six, had been battling terminal cancer for some time. His heartfelt wish was to personally witness the renowned hippo at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo.

In late 2024, it was said that Auto’s medical team contacted the zoo, sharing the boy’s desire to meet Moo Deng and disclosing his health concerns.

In January 2025, during the Lunar New Year, Auto had the pleasure of encountering Moo Deng. On June 2nd, the zoo’s Instagram account shared pictures from his visit, accompanied by a post describing how they managed to create an extraordinary experience for him.

Apart from getting a chance to view Moo Deng, he also had an opportunity to stroke a Capybara and bought a Capybara-themed souvenir at the shop.

The zoo expressed great joy in contributing to your joy, and ‘Little Auto’ was a delightful, intelligent, chatty young one. Medical professionals were on hand to ensure his well-being, as everyone eagerly worked towards his wellness.

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A post shared by ขาหมู แอนด์เดอะแก๊ง (@khamoo.andthegang)

They concluded their post with a disclosure that Auto’s medical team had reached out to share the unfortunate news about the boy passing away due to his cancer.

Today, we received sad news from his medical team – he has passed away unexpectedly. It wasn’t what we anticipated, especially given how joyful that day had been for the little one. Unfortunately, it seems time moved faster than we expected. Our thoughts go out to the family of Little Auto, a young boy resembling a lion, from Chaturapat, as they mourn their loss. The zoo has expressed its condolences on their behalf.

15,000 people have liked the post, with heartfelt messages still pouring in from fans two weeks on, who are saddened by the news but find comfort knowing that Moo Deng brought happiness during his last days.

One person said, ‘Moo Deng truly spreads joy and matters greatly.’ Just the sight of cherished creatures can evoke so much happiness. Farewell.”

This version maintains the original sentiment while aiming for a more natural and easy-to-read style.

May peaceful rest be with dear Car. It was wonderful the experience it provided. My heartfelt sympathies to its owners.”

“Farewell, lovely Vehicle. You brought such joy in your time. May tranquility and blessings find your family.

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2025-06-17 21:18