Moo Deng , the Bouncy Pig(my) Hippo

Two-month old resident of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo of Thailand is an Internet sensation

Sep 24, 2024

The Internet is abuzz with its newest adorable celebrity, pygmy hippopotamus calf Moo Deng. Born the 10th of July in 2024 at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, the youngster quickly captured the attention of a huge number of obsessed fans—in Thailand, throughout Asia, and beyond—thanks to the zoo’s full-on social media campaign and on the strength of her outgoing, playful personality. I mean, really, look at those bright eyes and adorable pink cheeks! She was born to be a star. Even Time magazine has recognized her as an “Icon” and a “Legend,” proclaiming that “She is the Moment.”

Moo Deng, like her half-sisters Moo Wan (Thai sweet pork) and Pha Lor (pork belly stew), and half-brother Moo Tun (stewed pork), is named for a Thai pork dish. Her name means roughly “bouncy pork” or “jiggly pig” and was chosen by public polling, with over 20,000 votes cast. The name works for her, as she is truly jiggly and bouncy. She has proven energetic and social, nibbling at and playing with zookeepers who document the interactions on video and post them on a variety of social media sites. She is a popular subject of Thai talk shows and a regular feature on Thai newcasts that provide updates on her antics. Journalists from outside Thailand have come to film the pygmy hippy for their own networks and even the Royal Thai Embassy has welcomed "hot topic" Moo Deng on its social media channels.

Moo Deng having a good hippo day: image from Guardian Australia via Bored Panda

Since Moo Deng’s first public appearance on July 25th, the zoo has seen about a 300% increase in foot traffic, with excited visitors swarming to see her. Unfortunately, not all guests have acted responsibly. Because a good portion of her day is devoted to sleeping (a requriement for most growing babies of any species and also standard behavior for pigmy hippos, who like to nap during the heat of midday), some disapointed visitors have attempted to wake Moo Deng in order to photograph her, pouring water on her or throwing objects at her. In response, the zoo has increased electronic security, hired guards, and has issued threats to prosecute those that engage in animal disruption. The zoo has also restricted visiting hours, with people only allowed five minutes to linger at Moo Deng’s enclosure.

Moo Deng showing off those Insta-worthy rosy cheeks: image from Guardian Australia via Bored Panda

Still, thanks to social media, fans can still experience plenty of Moo Deng action or even purchase Moo Deng memorabilia. The zoo’s TikTok account has over 2.5 million followers, with similar accounts on Facebook and Instagram bosting hundreds of thousands of subscribers. The zoo’s soon-to-be-launched collection of Moo Deng merchandise is expected to sell well, and other retailers have sought to take advantage of her popularity with their own lines of Moo Deng clothing, accessories and all manner of collectables (although the zoo’s move to trademark “Moo Deng the hippo” might be a stop to much of that). The bouncy baby has inspired fan creations from cakes, dumplings and edible creations to fan-art drawings and art tutorials. Even makeup merchandiser Sephora has gotten in on the action, with their Thailand stores offering a line of Moo Deng-inspired cheek powders that will enable one to “wear your blush like a baby hippo.”

Moo Deng blushes on offer by Sephora Thailand (image from the BBC)

Pygmy hippos, otherwise known as dwarf hippos, are native to West Africa and are classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), threatened by loss of their marshy habitat from human activities and also due to hunting. Experts believe there are fewer than 3,000 left in the wild. Khao Kheow Open Zoo hopes that Moo Deng’s popularity will help raise awareness and boost conservation efforts for the species.

And finally, a couple of fan-art items that I thought were fun:

A few sources provided the images used in today’s gif: