Feature: Happy birthday to beloved elephant Momo at Yangon Zoo

YANGON, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) — Visitors at the Yangon Zoo, Myanmar, were excited on Sunday as they gathered to celebrate the 71st birthday of Momo, a beloved female Asian elephant.
Han Su Yee, 36, brought her family to introduce her two sons to Momo. “I want them to learn more about animals and see them up close,” she explained.
“It is important for them to understand that people honor animals by celebrating birthdays,” she said.
“Last year, it was so crowded that I could only see Momo from a distance. This year, it is not as busy as before,” she added.
Among the enthusiastic crowd was 10-year-old Yoon Nadi Eain, who expressed her joy at being part of the celebration. “I came to the zoo to celebrate Momo’s birthday. This is my third or fourth time attending her birthday celebrations, and I am so happy to see her again.”
Thiri May Zaw, 30, shared her long-standing connection to Momo, saying that “since I was a child, my father brought me to the zoo to see Momo’s birthday. I have come every year, and now I want my children to see Momo too.”
“She has been a part of my life since I was young, and this event brings back fond memories of visiting Momo with my parents,” she said.
Eight-year-old Aung Bhone Pyae expressed his excitement while feeding sugarcanes to elephants. “I came to see the elephants because I love them. Even though they are big and strong, I am brave enough to feed them. This is my first visit to the zoo, and I am so happy to see the elephants.”
Momo’s birthday celebration has been held annually at the Yangon Zoo since 2013, when she turned 60, Than Myint Tun, warden of the Yangon Zoological Garden, said.
Each year, the celebration brings together families and friends, all united in their love for Momo and their appreciation for the special bond between humans and animals, he added. ■