In brief
At Yangon Zoo, the 73‑year‑old elephant Momo was celebrated by children, parents and older visitors who sang her Happy Birthday and watched her feast on a fruit‑cake. The event brought back memories for long‑time fans and introduced the gentle giant to new generations. Warden Than Myint Tun noted that Momo, who was donated to the zoo in 1961, had ceased performing in 2013 but remains a beloved figure among the public.
On Sunday, the Yangon Zoological Gardens packed its gates for the 73rd birthday of Momo, an Asian elephant whose life and performances have spanned six decades. Children, parents and older visitors gathered, sang “Happy Birthday,” and watched Momo sway her trunk and move her legs in reply. Later, the elephant roared with delight as she chewed on an assortment of fruits and vegetables arranged in the shape of a cake.
For many, the day rekindled memories. 60‑year‑old Thida Soe said she had known Momo since childhood and that seeing her again was like “taking a journey back to my childhood.” She added that people treat the elephant “like a human being” and celebrate her. “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 remarked.
Rising to a new generation, 11‑year‑old Thuta Nyan Kywal shared that she had only seen elephants in textbooks before visiting the zoo. “I wish Momo a long and healthy life. Happy birthday, Momo!” she told the gathered crowd.
Momo had been donated to Yangon Zoo in 1961. According to warden Than Myint Tun, she began as a performing elephant, entertaining visitors with dances and even participating in national events such as the opening ceremony of the Shwedagon Pagoda stairway. He noted that Momo stopped performing when she turned 60 in 2013, after which the zoo began celebrating her annual birthday. “We have celebrated her birthday every year since she stopped performing. Now she has turned 73,” he said.
The ceremony underscored how Momo has evolved from a youthful performer into a grandmother‑like figure adored by both new visitors and long‑time fans. The day offered a living link to Myanmar’s past, allowing families to share stories of the elephant’s presence in their lives and to pass those memories forward to their children and grandchildren.
