Heartbroken Hornbill Mistakes Zoo Visitors for His Deceased Lover, Leaves Netizens Emotional
Pluto, a great hornbill residing at Chiang Mai Zoo, recently tugged at heartstrings across social media due to his bittersweet display of affection—feeding zoo visitors pieces of fruit, mistaking them for his late mate, Neptune. In a viral video shared by Instagram user @earnny.pl, Pluto carefully picks fruits, hops adorably towards visitors, and gently offers these morsels at the tip of his beak, mirroring his natural courtship rituals. This heartfelt yet heart-wrenching behavior has garnered massive attention, racking up over 1.4 million views and nearly 150,000 likes.
The reason behind Pluto’s sweet but sad gestures is deeply touching. According to Chiang Mai Zoo’s director, Wuttichai Muangman, hornbills form lifelong bonds, and male hornbills typically feed their mates as a sign of deep affection. Since losing Neptune, Pluto has confused friendly zoo visitors as his lost lover, repeatedly performing this caring ritual every day since mid-February. Hornbill breeder Somsak Jaipuang confirmed Pluto’s mistaken yet genuine love, explaining that visitors now unknowingly fill the void left by Neptune, receiving daily offerings meant for his beloved partner.
Zoo officials are moved by Pluto’s heartwarming acts, hoping perhaps he’ll eventually find new companionship. Until then, Pluto’s story continues to captivate the hearts of millions worldwide.
Source : @earnny.pl (Instagram)
