Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus, has become a viral sensation in Thailand, captivating hearts with her adorable antics. Just a month after her introduction on Facebook, the little hippo’s fame has reached unstoppable heights. Fans, unable to make the two-hour drive from Bangkok to see her in person, can now enjoy watching her video clips online or scrolling through endless memes. Zookeeper Atthapon Nundee, who has been posting cute moments of the animals in his care for five years, never imagined the zoo’s newborn hippo would become an internet star within weeks.
The buzz surrounding Moo Deng has been phenomenal. Cars lined up outside the zoo long before it opened, with visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the chubby, expressive two-month-old. The pit where Moo Deng lives with her mother, Jona, was packed almost instantly, filled with people cooing and cheering every time the pink-cheeked baby moved. “It was beyond expectation,” Atthapon told The Associated Press. “I wanted people to know her. I wanted a lot of people to visit her, or watch her online, or leave fun comments. I never would’ve thought (of this).”
Moo Deng’s name, meaning “bouncy pork” in Thai, was chosen by fans through a social media poll, reflecting her playful personality and complementing her siblings: Moo Toon (stewed pork) and Moo Waan (sweet pork). The zoo even has a common hippo named Kha Moo (stewed pork leg), adding to the playful theme.
The adorable baby hippo has inspired a wave of creative content. Artists have drawn cartoons, crafted cakes and latte art based on her image, and even the social media platform X featured her in a post on its official account. Moo Deng has become a meme sensation, appearing with various headgear or in human-like situations, adorning images of renowned sports teams like FC Bayern, Phoenix Suns, Washington Commanders, and the New York Mets.
Businesses have also jumped on the Moo Deng bandwagon. Sephora Thailand used her image for a makeup tip, highlighting her pink cheeks, while Grab Thailand imagined what kind of meal she might enjoy. The widespread popularity has led the zoo to take steps to protect Moo Deng’s image. Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi announced that they have begun copyrighting and trademarking “Moo Deng the hippo” to prevent anyone else from commercializing the animal. “After we do this, we will have more income to support activities that will make the animals’ lives better,” he said.
Moo Deng’s fame has not only brought joy but also a surge in visitors to the zoo, which is home to more than 2,000 animals, including endangered species. The zoo runs breeder programs for many of these animals, including Moo Deng’s own species, the pygmy hippopotamus, which is threatened by poaching and habitat loss. Only an estimated 2,000-3,000 pygmy hippos remain in the wild.
To further support these conservation efforts, the zoo is launching a line of Moo Deng merchandise, including shirts and pants, with more items to come. Narongwit believes a factor in Moo Deng’s success is her energetic personality, captured in Atthapon’s creative captions and video clips. Moo Deng, true to her name, loves to “deng,” or bounce, and Atthapon has shared countless moments of her giddy bouncing on social media.
Even when she’s not bouncing, Moo Deng is endlessly cute. Videos show her squirming as Atthapon tries to wash her, biting him playfully, and calmly closing her eyes as he rubs her cheeks or chubby belly. Atthapon, who has worked at the zoo for eight years caring for hippos, sloths, capybaras, and binturongs, says baby hippos are typically playful and energetic, becoming calmer as they mature.
Moo Deng’s fame has significantly increased visitor numbers at the zoo, leading them to implement a 5-minute window system for access to her enclosure during weekends. Narongwit said the zoo is now receiving over 4,000 visitors on weekdays, up from around 800 people, and over 10,000 on weekends, up from 3,000. However, the zoo is also grappling with the negative side of Moo Deng’s fame, encountering aggressive visitors who try to wake the sleeping hippo.
Videos surfaced of visitors splashing water or throwing things at the sleeping Moo Deng to try and rouse her. The zoo responded by posting a warning sign at the hippo pit in Thai, English, and Chinese, urging visitors not to throw things at Moo Deng. Narongwit stated the zoo would take action under animal protection laws if anyone mistreats the animal. While the zoo has yet to witness any further incidents of mistreatment, the backlash to the initial videos was fierce. The zoo plans to combat this by setting up cameras to launch a 24-hour live feed of the baby hippo in the coming week, allowing fans to enjoy her cuteness without disturbing her rest.
Moo Deng’s story is a testament to the power of the internet and the ability of a small, adorable creature to capture the hearts of millions around the world. While the zoo navigates the challenges of managing her fame, one thing is certain: Moo Deng, the bouncing baby hippo, is here to stay.
