IF YOU’VE been online recently, you may have come across the aggressively cute baby hippopotamus from Thailand that everyone’s been raving about. This Thai Pygmy hippo goes by the name of “Moo Deng,” which translates to “bouncy pork.”
Born just last July, Moo Deng is one of seven siblings and currently resides at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo located in Chonburi, Thailand. Thanks to her playful attitude and natural cuteness, she’s quickly become an internet sensation.
@khamoo.andthegang ฮิปโปโตไวมาก #hippo #ขาหมูแอนด์เดอะแก๊ง ♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – ขาหมู แอนด์เดอะแก๊ง
Moo Deng’s keeper, who on TikTok goes by the name of “Khamoo and the Gang,” started posting videos of the baby hippo online. Here, they show Moo Deng’s different antics, such as trying to bite her keeper and getting stuck in her mother’s food bowl.
The Khao Kheow Open Zoo also started posting photos of their hippopotamuses on their Facebook page, where Moo Deng gained even more traction.
She’s since been covered by multiple news outlets and has even been used by brands like Sephora and Vetmon Cafe as inspiration for their content online, with the former posting a Moo Deng-inspired makeup tutorial and the latter making a cake shaped just like the baby hippo.
Soon enough, photos and videos of Moo Deng started amassing millions of views. Thousands of people have started making memes of the hippo and feel so strongly about Moo Deng that they’ve dubbed her the It Girl of social media, as well as the Princess Diana of the modern generation.
unbothered. moisturized. happy. in my lane. focused. flourishing#moodeng pic.twitter.com/W6IegMFO5A
— kristina🦒 (@kristinakovv) September 16, 2024
im crying good morning moo deng i love you pic.twitter.com/HCUp7K3dWP
— faith⁷ 🇵🇸 (@faitheeyy) September 13, 2024
Moo Deng’s personal keeper went on live and said that Moo Deng isn’t even old enough to eat solid vegetation yet. She was just mimicking her mother with the little noms here lmao 😭😭😭 https://t.co/76x2r9PJ4f
— yammi (@sighyam) September 14, 2024
According to Vogue, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo also plans to release branded shirts and pants featuring Moo Deng soon, so be sure to get your wallets ready.
Now that Moo Deng is so famous, her zoo had to establish a five-minute window for guests to see her.
จัดระเบียบผู้เช้าชมหมูเด้ง รอบละ5นาที
— สวนสัตว์เปิดเขาเขียว Khao Kheow Open Zoo (@kkopzoo) September 15, 2024
เฉพาะเสาร์-อาทิตย์ครับ เพื่อความปลอดภัยเเละการให้นักท่องเที่ยวทุกคนได้เห็นหมูเด้ง
ขออภัยในความไม่สะดวกครับ 🥰 pic.twitter.com/g2Tg3fbMAo
Protect Moo Deng at all costs
Sadly, as expected for her fame, others have started to take this as a pass to mistreat the poor baby hippo.
People online have shown disappointment about how some guests threw objects at and poured water on Moo Deng.
Narongwit Chodcho, the zoo director at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, stated the importance of protecting these animals and ensuring they have a safe, comfortable environment.
To further ensure the safety of the animals, the zoo has installed CCTV cameras around its enclosures. Chodcho also stated that visitors who do not cooperate with their rules may be subjected to legal action.
Vogue reports that pygmy hippos are an endangered species. They note that, at present, there are only 2,000 of them left in the wild, hence why now more than ever, there is a need to protect Moo Deng and all other animals like her.
