Children wear elephant headbands during the celebrations of the 73rd birthday of Momo, a female Asian elephant, at the Yangon Zoological Gardens in Yangon, Myanmar, Nov. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)
YANGON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- At 73, Momo, a renowned female Asian elephant at Yangon Zoological Gardens, was once again the center of attention as children, parents and elderly visitors gathered on Sunday to celebrate her birthday.
As children and other spectators sang the song "Happy Birthday," Momo gently swayed her trunk and moved her legs, seemingly joining in the celebration. Later, she chomped on an assortment of fruits and vegetables arranged in the shape of a cake.
For some visitors, it was their first time seeing the gentle giant. For others, the occasion brought back fond childhood memories of visiting Momo at the zoo, memories they are now passing on to their own children and grandchildren.
For 11-year-old Thuta Nyan Kywal, visiting the zoo with her mother and sister was an exciting opportunity to see elephants in real life rather than simply reading about them in textbooks.
"In the past, I only saw elephants in textbooks. Now I can see them in real life and learn how they behave and what they eat. I did not know about Momo before coming here, but today I learned about her and am very happy to join her birthday celebration," she said.
"I wish Momo a long and healthy life. Happy birthday, Momo!" she added.
For 60-year-old Thida Soe, seeing Momo again was like taking a journey back to her childhood.
"I have known Momo since I was young and used to visit her at the zoo. Seeing her brings back so many childhood memories," she said.
"Although Momo is an animal, people treat her like a human being and celebrate her birthday. She is very gentle. She has changed as she has grown older and cannot be as active as she once was, but she has lived to 73. Not everyone, even among humans, gets to live that long," she said.
According to Than Myint Tun, warden of Yangon Zoological Gardens, Momo was donated to Yangon Zoo in 1961. Over the decades, she has grown from a young performing elephant into a much-loved grandmother figure and one of the zoo's most recognizable residents.
During her younger years, Momo entertained visitors with performances and dances. She also took part in significant national events, including the opening ceremony of the Shwedagon Pagoda stairway, he said.
"Momo stopped performing when she turned 60 in 2013. Since then, we have celebrated her birthday every year. Now she has turned 73," he said.
"Momo is loved by the public and is one of Yangon Zoo's trademarks. By celebrating her birthday, we can also raise public awareness about elephants and their nature," he added.
For more than four years, Momo has been under the care of her keeper, Thant Sin Tun, who inherited the responsibility from his senior colleagues.
"Momo is polite and gentle. As she has grown older, she has become less patient. She does not like being scolded, so we have to speak to her softly," he said.
"When we call her name, she responds. When we ask her to dance, she dances," he added.
Momo loves cleanliness. If her food falls on the ground and gets mixed with sand, she refuses to eat it. She also likes drinking tap water and enjoys scrubbing herself when taking a bath, he said.
Age, however, has brought some physical challenges. Her eyesight has become blurry, and she can no longer chew hard food as easily as before. Apart from these age-related changes, her keeper said she has no major health problems.
At the zoo, Momo receives regular medical attention and care. Unlike elephants in the wild, she does not have to search for food herself or face some of the dangers associated with life in the forest, he said.
"If she could speak, I think she would say that she wants to live longer here because so many people love her and we take care of her health," he said. ■
Children wear elephant headbands during the celebrations of the 73rd birthday of Momo, a female Asian elephant, at the Yangon Zoological Gardens in Yangon, Myanmar, Nov. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)
Momo, a renowned female Asian elephant at the Yangon Zoological Gardens, celebrates her 73rd birthday in Yangon, Myanmar, Nov. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)
Momo, a renowned female Asian elephant at the Yangon Zoological Gardens, celebrates her 73rd birthday in Yangon, Myanmar, Nov. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)
Momo, a renowned female Asian elephant at the Yangon Zoological Gardens, celebrates her 73rd birthday in Yangon, Myanmar, Nov. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)
