A baby pygmy hippopotamus named Moo Deng has become an online sensation at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand. The zookeeper, Atthapon Nundee, has been sharing cute videos of the animals in his care for years, but he never imagined that Moo Deng would become so popular.

  • Moo Deng’s name, which means “bouncy pork” in Thai, was chosen by fans in a social media poll.
  • It fits her personality well, as she is very energetic and playful. Atthapon has posted many videos of her bouncing around, as well as other adorable moments like when she squirms while being washed or bites him playfully.

A Rare Breed

Moo Deng is a pygmy hippopotamus, a species native to West Africa that is threatened by poaching and habitat loss. There are only 2,000-3,000 pygmy hippos left in the wild. The Khao Kheow Open Zoo runs a breeding programme for this endangered species.

Moo Deng Mania

Moo Deng’s fame has brought a huge increase in visitors to the zoo.

  • Weekday visitor numbers have risen from around 800 to over 4,000.
  • Weekend numbers have jumped from about 3,000 to over 10,000.

The zoo has had to limit public access to Moo Deng’s enclosure to 5-minute windows during weekends to manage the crowds.

Protecting Moo Deng

Unfortunately, Moo Deng’s fame has also attracted some negative attention. Some visitors have been seen splashing water or throwing things at her while she’s sleeping to try to wake her up.

  • The zoo has put up a sign in Thai, English, and Chinese warning visitors not to throw things at Moo Deng.
  • The zoo director has said that they will take action under the animal protection law if people mistreat the animal.

To allow fans to see Moo Deng without disturbing her, the zoo has set up cameras and plans to start a 24-hour live feed in the coming week. They have also begun patenting and trademarking “Moo Deng the hippo” to prevent her from being commerciallyized and to raise funds for the zoo’s animal care initiatives.

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