In brief
At 73, Momo, a female Asian elephant, was the centerpiece of Yangon Zoo’s birthday festivities on November 1, 2026. Visitors sang “Happy Birthday” to the gentle giant, who joined the celebration with a trunk sway and a feast of fruit and vegetables shaped like a cake. Wongy the zoo’s warden reflected on Momo’s history, from performances to compassionate retirement, highlighting her legacy in the community.
On Sunday, November 1, Yangon Zoological Gardens hosted a birthday ceremony for Momo, a 73‑year‑old female Asian elephant who has long been a favorite of zoo visitors. The celebration drew children, parents and elderly guests who gathered to sing “Happy Birthday” and watch Momo gently sway her trunk and move her legs, as if she was joining in the festivities. She later ate an assortment of fruits and vegetables arranged in the shape of a cake, delighting all in attendance.
For 11‑year‑old Thuta Nyan Kywal, the trip with her mother and sister was “an exciting opportunity to see elephants in real life rather than simply reading about them in textbooks.” She said she had previously known only about elephants from books, but after seeing Momo she “learned about her and am very happy to join her birthday celebration,” adding “I wish Momo a long and healthy life. Happy birthday, Momo!”
Thida Soe, 60, recalled that seeing Momo “brings back so many childhood memories.” She described the elephant as “gentle,” noting that while Momo has not been as active as she once was after turning 73, she has lived a remarkably long life, a rarity for both humans and animals alike. “Although Momo is an animal, people treat her like a human being and celebrate her birthday,” he added.
According to Than Myint Tun, warden of Yangon Zoological Gardens, Momo was donated to the zoo in 1961. She rose from a young performing elephant to a beloved grandmother figure and one of the zoo’s most recognizable residents. While entertaining visitors with performances and dances in her youth, Momo also participated in national events, including the opening ceremony of the Shwedagon Pagoda stairway.
Warden Tun explained that Momo ceased performing when she turned 60 in 2013, after which the zoo shifted to celebrating her birthdays each year. “Momo is loved by the public and is one of Yangon Zoo’s most iconic animals,” he said. The zoo’s annual birthday celebrations are now a way to honor her lifelong presence and the people who have followed her journey.
