Pattaya- Khao Kheow Open Zoo is gearing up for a special celebration in honor of Mae Mali/Malee, the oldest hippopotamus in Thailand, who will turn 59 years old this weekend. The event, scheduled for September 7-8, 2024, will feature a variety of activities to celebrate this beloved animal.
Mr. Narongwit Chodchoi, Director of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, announced that Mae Mali, who has been a favorite among children for generations, is still in excellent health. Despite her age, equivalent to a human aged 85-90 years, Mae Mali remains active and cheerful, weighing approximately 1,500 kilograms.
On September 8th, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., the zoo will present Mae Mali with a giant fruit cake made of various vegetables and fruits. Visitors and fans are invited to join in singing Happy Birthday and writing messages for Mae Mali. The celebration will also include an exhibition on Mae Mali’s history, fun games, and an opportunity to contribute to the wildlife sponsorship project.
Mr. Narongwit emphasized the importance of community support in caring for Mae Mali, stating, “We will take care of her until we are old together.” Donations to the Wildlife Sponsorship Project can be made through Krung Thai Bank, account number 208-0-74900-5. Donors contributing 1,599 baht or more will receive a commemorative hat celebrating Mae Mali’s 59th anniversary.
Mae Mali, who moved from Dusit Zoo to Khao Kheow Open Zoo on December 18, 2018, originally came from Tilburg Zoo in the Netherlands in 1967 when she was just one year old. Over the years, she has given birth to 14 babies and continues to thrive. It is hoped that Mae Mali will continue to live many more healthy years, potentially becoming the world’s oldest living hippopotamus.
For more information, please call 038-318444 ext. 213.
