From grumpy cats to skateboarding dogs, celebrity animals have always ruled the internet like furry royalty. For these animals, it usually doesn't take much to reach stardom. One short viral video, a few hilarious memes, and boom – these animals end up with more genuine fans and followers than most human celebrities. It's the perfect mix of cuteness, personality, and often just the right amount of chaos.

People love a good laugh, a daily dose of adorableness, or even a dramatic pet with attitude. Whether it's a cat that is always looking grumpy or a dog that has become the face of internet memes, these animals bring joy and laughter to millions.

Last year, many such celebrity animals came under the spotlight as the internet couldn't get enough of them. Here's our pick of the modern-day internet's favorite celebrity animals.

Moo Deng

The moody and ungovernable pygmy hippo

A pygmy hippopotamus at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, Moo Deng – meaning bouncy pork – took the internet by storm in 2024 with her temper tantrums and adorable personality. Biting the zookeepers with her toothless mouth whenever angered, running around joyfully and falling countless times on her own slippery feet, and sleeping peacefully in her bed of grass without a care for the world, Moo Deng is perhaps the little diva that we all aspire to be.

Pesto

The fluffy king penguin

Equipped with fuzzy brown feathers and a build so large he towers over every other penguin in his vicinity, this king penguin has carved a space for himself in the hearts of millions around the world. This resident of the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in Australia has been dubbed as "chonky" for his fluffy build. Once he has finished molting, he will shrink considerably in size. But, for now, Pesto has claimed an unusually large spot in our lives with his cuteness.

Hua Hua

The onigiri-shaped giant panda

With their calm personalities, fluffy appearance, and nonchalant bamboo chewing, giant pandas have always been popular on the internet. Hua Hua, a member of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, however, rose amongst the ranks of celebrity animals due to her uncanny resemblance to a Japanese onigiri or rice ball. That, coupled with her leisurely gait and gentle, submissive demeanour, often relinquishing her treats to her other panda companions with no resistance, has managed to garner sympathy and love from countless global fans.