Moo Deng who? Golden tiger siblings Ava and Luna are Thailand’s new celebrity animals

A pair of three-year-old golden tigers have become Thailand’s latest sensation, drawing large crowds of visitors to the zoo that the wide-eyed creatures are housed at.

The world was introduced to the furry siblings – Ava and Luna – via two Facebook posts by Chiang Mai Night Safari in October and November.

The posts have garnered more than 40,000 likes, as netizens swoon over the tiger siblings’ seemingly innocent, wide-eyed gaze and soft, ginger-white fur – a striking contrast to their chunky paws and formidable stature.

Some netizens said Ava and Luna could well become the next Moo Deng, the baby hippo which skyrocketed to Internet stardom and drew thousands of visitors to Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo in recent months.

“Moo Deng, get ready! A new star is about to debut,” said one Facebook user.

Thai media outlet The Nation reported that visitors have already been flocking to see the golden tigers, with many arriving at the zoo before opening hours to secure their tickets.

There are only around 50 to 100 golden tigers worldwide, according to the Chiang Mai Night Safari.

Golden tigers have “extremely rare colour variation”, which is caused by a recessive gene found only in tigers held in captivity, according to the Zoological Wildlife Foundation’s website.

They also tend to be larger than their “orange relatives” and have softer fur, said the website.

Male tigers have an average length of 2.7m to 3.1m, including the tail, while females measure between 2.4m and 2.65m on average.

Correction note: An earlier version of this story said that one of the golden tigers was named Eva. This is incorrect; it is Ava.