Chiang Mai Night Safari Zoo Eva·Luna
White and Golden Fur Due to Genetic Mutation
Following the baby hippo 'Mudeung' in Thailand, the golden tiger sisters 'Eva' and 'Luna,' known for their unique and adorable appearances, are receiving widespread public affection.
Recently, Thai online media Sanook and others reported that Chiang Mai Night Safari Zoo posted photos of the 3-year-old golden spotted tiger sisters Eva and Luna.
The zoo received a pair of male and female tigers nine years ago in 2015. The male tiger came from South Africa, and the female tiger from the Czech Republic, and they gave birth to three cubs. Among them, the female tiger sisters Eva and Luna, born on February 16, 2021, have gained popularity due to their unique appearance. Eva and Luna were born with golden and white fur, unlike typical tigers, due to a genetic mutation. Normally, tigers have reddish-orange fur with black stripes, creating a strong contrast and a striking impression, but compared to this, golden tigers have a much softer appearance. Thanks to this look, Eva and Luna have earned nicknames such as 'golden tiger' and 'strawberry tiger,' which are unusual for fierce predators.
Among them, the younger sister Eva is more popular than the older sister Luna. Eva is gaining popularity mainly on social media platforms with her unique and comical quirky expressions. The photos of the tiger sisters shared by the zoo received over 15,000 likes and were shared more than 10,000 times within a day. The zoo hopes that Eva will enjoy popularity comparable to the baby hippo 'Mudeung.'
Mudeung means 'plump pig' in Thai and is a female pygmy hippo born on July 10. The pygmy hippo is an endangered species living in the tropical rainforests of West Africa, with only about 3,000 wild pygmy hippos remaining worldwide. Mudeung lives at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi Province, southern Thailand, where recently up to 12,000 visitors per day have been flocking to see her.
Mudeung has also played a significant role in revitalizing the local economy. Thanks to Mudeung, Chonburi Province earned 27 billion baht (approximately 1 trillion won) in tourism revenue from July to October. As a result, Chonburi has risen to become the region with the third-highest tourism income in Thailand, following Bangkok and Phuket.
A song themed around Mudeung has also been created. Written by a famous Thai composer, the song has been released in Thai, English, Chinese, and Japanese versions and is distributed by Thailand's largest record company, GMM. Additionally, foreign media such as the Associated Press reported that merchandise featuring Mudeung, including bedding, dolls, and clothing, is also gaining popularity.
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