A six-year-old girl from Liverpool has received an unusual reply to her fan letter to Thailand's famous pygmy hippo Moo Deng: a signature made with a print from the base of the animal's tail.
Sophie wrote to Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri on July 17, introducing herself and asking the hippo about her friends and favourite colour. The zoo's director, Narongwit Chodchoy, shared the exchange on Facebook on August 13.
A letter from Liverpool
In her letter, Sophie wrote: "To Moo Deng, I'm Sophie and I'm 6 years old. I love hippos and I'm a fan of you [yours] and you are very cute. Who is your [friend]? My friends are Ivy and Violet. What is your favourite colour? My favourite colour is white. Please write back. From Sophie."
Zoo staff replied on Moo Deng's behalf, while a behind-the-scenes video showed a keeper taking an ink print from the base of the pygmy hippo's tail and placing it on the letter as a signature.
The zoo said it would email Sophie the video clip of the tail stamping, giving her proof that the signature was genuine.
Picture courtesy of Facebook: Narongwit Chodchoy
The reply, written in Moo Deng's voice, said: "Dear Sophie, Thank you for your lovely letter! I'm so happy you love hippos and me! I have lots of animal friends at Khao Keow Open Zoo. My favourite colour is pink! Say hello to Ivy and Violet for me. I hope you can come and visit me one day! P.S. Moo Deng cheers for Liverpool too! Lots of love, Moo Deng, Thailand."
The letter also gives overseas fans a glimpse of the zoo's effort to engage with Moo Deng's followers beyond Thailand, using the hippo's tail print as a playful stand-in for a personal autograph.
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16 August 2026
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