The latest internet celebrity is pigmy hippo, moo Deng
Viral baby hippo Moo Deng will be having a 24-hour live feed for fans to enjoy.
The Thailand zoo housing the hippo is also working on patenting and trademarking, "Moo Deng the hippo.” pic.twitter.com/sklLSyN0HT
- Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 19, 2024
A month after baby hippo Moo Deng (Thai for “bouncy pig”) was unveiled on Facebook, her fame became unstoppable domestically and internationally. Zookeeper Atthapon Nundee posts cute moments of her, but never imagined Khao Kheow Open Zoo's newborn pygmy hippo would become an Internet megastar, due to her sassy nature.
Cars line up outside the zoo well before it opens. Visitors travel far for a chance to see the pudgy, expressive baby at the zoo 60 miles southeast of Bangkok. The pit where Moo Deng lives with mom, Jona, is packed immediately, with people cooing and cheering every time the baby animal makes skittish movements.
Moo Deng has been made into memes, cartoons and heavily featured on social media. Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi said they began patenting and trademarking "Moo Deng the hippo" to prevent her from being commercialized by anyone else with the benefits helping the life of all animals here. The zoo runs breeder programs for endangered species, including Moo Deng's. The pygmy hippopotamus, from West Africa are threatened by poaching and loss of habitat with only 2,000-3,000 left in the wild.
unbothered. moisturized. happy. in my lane. focused. flourishing #moodeng pic.twitter.com/W6IegMFO5A
- kristina🦒 (@kristinakovv) September 16, 2024
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