Despite our unique preferences, one thing that unites us is our shared love for adorable animals. For example, Malaysia’s famous orange tabby cat at Zoo Negara named Oyen became a social media sensation alongside capybaras. Animals like Oyen have a universal way of capturing hearts and lifting spirits.
Every day, new animals charm the internet with their cuteness. From Moo Deng, the playful hippo, to Pesto, the baby penguin, these animals have recently captured the spotlight. Here are 6 star animals that have become the latest talk of the town:
1. Moo Deng
@khamoo.andthegang ฟังไม่รู้เรื่อง555 #hippo #ขาหมูแอนด์เดอะแก๊ง #หมูเด้งจะเด้งกี่โมง
♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – ศาลเจ้ามังกรเนื้อทอง – ศาลเจ้ามังกรเนื้อทอง
The most talked-about animal at the moment is a two-month-old female pygmy hippopotamus from Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, named Moo Deng, which means “Bouncy Pig” in Thai. Known for her playful, bouncy body and expressive face, Moo Deng has gone insanely viral, especially for her meme-worthy and relatable shocked expressions.
Her online fame has led to a surge in visitors at the zoo, eager to see her live in action. The influx has been so significant that the zoo now limits public access to her enclosure, offering 5-minute viewing windows throughout the day on weekends to manage the crowds.
2. F1 Lizard
@f1 early contender for fastest lap🦎👏 #f1 #formula1 #singaporegp #lizard #godzilla
Recently, a large, unexpected guest stole the spotlight during the final F1 practice at the Singapore Grand Prix—a random lizard that wandered onto the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The curious reptile casually roamed the track as cars zoomed by at high speeds, forcing officials to red-flag the session and bring all drivers back to the pitlane for safety.
In an amusing turn of events, two Formula One marshals attempted to catch the speedy lizard and relocate it to a safer area. The scene quickly went viral online, with viewers finding humour in the sight of the reptile darting around while marshals chased after it, adding an unexpected twist to the race weekend.
3. Amber
@pointingorangutan Amber the orangutan wants play-doh IN slime #orangutan #fyp
Amber, a 36-year-old orangutan at the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky, has captured hearts with her playful personality. She has been with the zoo since 1996 and is known for her unique way of interacting with visitors. Amber often taps on the glass to grab attention and wiggles her finger to point at objects that catch her interest. This charming behaviour has recently gone viral on TikTok, where content creators have begun mimicking Amber’s iconic finger-pointing in relatable and meme-worthy videos.
4. Pesto
@sealifemelbourneaquarium From one icon to another—@katyperry come meet Pesto. 🐧💃 Catch this VIP (Very Important Penguin) at SEA LIFE Melbourne 🎶 #lifetimes
Pesto, a baby king penguin from the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in Australia, has recently gained online fame for his impressive size and unique brown fur. At just nine months old and weighing 22.5 kilogrammes, Pesto is already larger than his parents, making him the biggest baby penguin the aquarium has ever seen.
Many people are curious about his brown fur, which is typical for king penguin chicks. They are born with brown feathers, which they eventually shed as they mature. Pesto’s hefty appetite contributes to his rapid growth as he’s fed about eight fish, four times a day, totalling over 30 fish daily, which is double the amount an adult penguin usually eats.
5. Kitler
Universiti Malaya (UM) has captured the hearts of netizens with the appointment of its beloved campus cat, now famously known as Kitler, as the Student Facilitator (PM) for Kolej Kediaman 9. Despite the masculine name and striking moustache-like fur pattern, Kitler is actually a female. This sardine roll-loving feline has been tasked with ensuring that all bureau units are on top of their responsibilities as the university gears up for its upcoming Orientation Week (MHS). Here’s hoping Kitler won’t “purr-crastinate” and carries out her duties with feline finesse!
6. Bella
@francisnguhownhua perempuan merajuk
Bella, the adorable furry companion of TikTok user @/francisnguhownhua, has captured the hearts of Malaysian netizens with her human-like reactions in a recently viral video. In the clip, Bella is seen sitting in the front passenger seat of a car, staring out of the window with a clear expression of sulking. The reason? Her owner jokingly called her out for having an “arrogant face,” and it seems Bella took the playful remark to heart. Despite her owner’s attempts to console and apologise, the golden-furred canine refused to budge, clearly having a “ruff” day because of her human best friend.
Which one captured your heart the most?
Sources: TheSun, CNN (1)(2), DailyDot, Instagram
Alia contributed to this article.
