'Moo Deng? Who Deng? Introducing Haggis'

Not many people on this Earth can become internet celebrities, and a lot less animals can achieve that status.

But Moo Deng is different.

Soon after the pygmy hippopotamus was born, zookeeper Atthapon Nundee has been sharing cute moments, resulting in a instant fame. Moog Deng, the pygmy hippo, has become an internet sensation for her adorable antics.

Never did the world anticipate that the newborn pygmy hippopotamus at Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo would become an internet sensation in such a short time.

This time, another pygmy hippo is trying to capitalize the trend.

And her name is Haggis.

Edinburgh zoo is Scotland has announced the birth of a pygmy hippo to rival Thailand’s internet hit, Moo Deng.

With the internet literally obsessed with Moo Deng's personality and charm, the zookeeper at Edinburgh wishes Haggis to earn the same popularity.

"Moo Deng? Who deng?" the Scottish zoo playfully announced Haggis' birth on the social media platform X.

The arrival of one of Haggis at the Edinburgh zoo last month has been met with understandable excitement.

"Haggis is doing really well so far and it is amazing to see her personality beginning to shine already," said Jonny Appleyard, the team leader at Edinburgh Zoo.

"The first 30 days are critical for her development, so the pygmy hippo house will be closed for now to allow us to keep a close eye on mum and baby at this sensitive time."

Haggis was born to parents Otto and Gloria on October 30.

The pair are also parents to Amara, who was born in 2021 but was moved to London Zoo back in 2023 as part of the European breeding program for the endangered species.

"While Thailand’s Moo Deng has become a viral global icon, it is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare. It is great to have our own little ambassador right here in Edinburgh to connect with our visitors and help raise awareness of the challenges the species face in the wild."

To celebrate Haggis’s arrival Edinburgh Zoo is offering people the chance to meet her, and funds raised will go towards animal care.

But soon after Haggis' introduction, the internet hits back.

Edinburgh Zoo’s X account then apologized for pitting Haggis and Moo Deng against one another.

"Sorry guys this is our official notes app apology," the zoo said. “We were wrong to pit Haggis and Moo Deng against each other."

“There is space in this world for two beautiful pygmy hippo divas and we should celebrate them all.

“Sorry to Moo Deng. Let’s work it out on the remix.”

While her name is as Scottish as it gets, the little Haggis is in fact a long way from her natural home.

Pygmy hippos come from the forests and swamps of West Africa.

They are primarily found in Liberia, with smaller populations in nearby countries like Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire. Unlike their larger relatives, common hippos, which are more aquatic and found in rivers and lakes, pygmy hippos are more reclusive and adapted to dense forest habitats where they spend a lot of time near water but not fully submerged.

They're also a lot less territorial, and are generally shy and mainly nocturnal.

These hippos main diets include leaves, roots, and fruits they find in their forested environment.

They’re also endangered due to habitat loss and hunting, making conservation efforts crucial for their survival.

It's believed that there are around 2,000 to 3,000 of the species remaining in the world.

It's worth noting that both Moo Deng and Haggis are named after meat products.

The smack talk pitted two critters with more in common than just being females calves of the same endangered species. They’re also named for meat products that don’t typically carry cute connotations.

Moo deng is a type of meatball that means "bouncy pork" in Thai, whereas Haggis is a national dish of Scotland that is made in a sheep’s stomach filled with spiced and diced innards.