Moo Deng Becomes The Most Famous Pygmy Hippopotamus After Viral Social Media Photos

Just a month after an adorable baby hippo Moo Deng was introduced on social media, her fame skyrocketed both locally and globally.

Zookeeper Atthapon Nundee has been sharing cute moments of the animals in his care for five years, but he never anticipated that the newborn pygmy hippopotamus at Khao Kheow Open Zoo would become an internet sensation in such a short time.

What follows is not an exaggeration.

Moog Deng, the pygmy hippo, has become an internet sensation for her adorable antics.

Cars began lining up outside the zoo well before it opened on Thursday, with visitors traveling from far and wide for a glimpse of the pudgy, expressive 2-month-old. The enclosure where Moo Deng lives with her mother, Jona, was quickly packed with people cooing and cheering at every little movement from the pink-cheeked baby.

Since Moo Deng's rise to fame, the zoo has experienced a significant increase in visitors, receiving over 4,000 during weekdays, up from around 800, and more than 10,000 on weekends, compared to about 3,000 previously.

“It was beyond expectation,” Atthapon said. “I wanted people to know her and to visit her or watch her online. I never would have thought this would happen.”

For the well-being of the Dong Meng, the zoon that sees a sudden spike in visitors, has to limit public access to the baby's enclosure to 5-minute windows during weekends.

And due to how high the interest is, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo is setting up cameras and plans to launch a 24-hour live feed of the adorable hippo soon.

Moo Deng, which translates to "bouncy pork" in Thai, was named through a fan poll on social media. Her name was chosen through a public vote, to which over 20,000 selected the name Moo Deng.

The pygmy hippo was born on July 10, 2024 to parents Jonah and Tony, and is the seventh of their offspring. Moo Deng right in with her siblings, which include Moo Toon (stewed pork) and Moo Waan (sweet pork).

There’s also a common hippo at the zoo named Kha Moo (stewed pork leg).

Narongwit believes that Moo Deng's charming name, paired with her energetic and playful personality, is a significant factor in her popularity, as showcased in Atthapon’s engaging posts.

She loves to "deng" or bounce, and Atthapon has shared plenty of delightful moments of her playful antics—whether it’s squirming during bath time, playfully biting him, or blissfully closing her eyes as he rubs her chubby cheeks.

Atthapon, who has spent eight years caring for hippos, sloths, capybaras, and binturongs, noted that baby hippos are typically more lively and playful, becoming calmer as they age.

This applies to Moo Deng, which gained popularity due to her playfulness that stands out from the other, less active animals.

Moo Deng has already inspired countless memes and artistic tributes, even getting featured on social media platform X’s official account.

Tech companies even wanted their share of the trend, by creating posts about the baby hippo on their social media account.

Even Thailand's Embassy in Japan posted something about her.

It's worth noting that visitors can be anyone, and not everyone is friendly.

Moo Deng's popularity here has also attracted some disrespectful visitors.

For example, some videos have shown how people tried to wake the sleeping baby hippo by splashing water or throwing objects at her. In response, the zoo has posted signs in Thai, English, and Chinese to warn visitors against such behavior.

Narongwit assured that any mistreatment of Moo Deng would be addressed under animal protection laws, and the backlash against poor treatment has reportedly reduced such incidents.

In response to her fame, zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi announced plans to patent and trademark "Moo Deng the hippo" to protect her image from commercialization.

"This will help us generate income to support activities that improve the lives of all our animals," he explained.

At this time, Khao Kheow Open Zoo spans nearly 2,000 acres and houses over 2,000 animals.

It runs breeding programs for various endangered species, including the pygmy hippopotamus, which is threatened by poaching and habitat loss, with only about 2,000 to 3,000 remaining in the wild.

To help fund these efforts, the zoo also plans to sell Moo Deng merchandise, including shirts and pants, by the end of the month.

The Zoological Park Organization of Thailand, under Royal Patronage, has expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has shown kindness and affection toward Moo Deng, helping to raise awareness about animal conservation in Thailand.

This collective effort has sparked inspiration for learning and preservation, becoming a significant force for the country on the international stage.

In response, the Zoological Park Organization is inviting both public and private sectors to collaborate on creating products and organizing activities that enhance a positive brand image while expanding partnership networks.

This collaboration aims to build trust with customers, create mutual opportunities, and facilitate media exchanges, ultimately opening new business avenues through an expanded customer base.

The organization also encourages the sale of goods and services that can drive promotions or boost sales. A portion of the proceeds will be directed toward assisting flood victims, aligning with the Zoological Park Organization’s mission as a socially-driven state enterprise.