Feisty. Expressive. Slippery. Adorable. These are only a few words that fans would use to describe 4-month old Moo Deng, the newest member of Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, and the “it girl” who’s taken her social media audience, and the world, by storm.
Moo Deng was born on a hot summer day on July 10, 2024 to father Tony and mother Jonah. She’s a pygmy hippopotamus, an endangered breed native to the forests and swamps of West Africa. Like all pygmy hippos, who grow to be only half the size of the common hippopotamus, she’s an incredibly tiny creature, and coupled with her baby face, it only adds to her charm. However, what has made her so popular is her abnormal behavior compared to the rest of her species. Most pygmies are characterized as being shy and reserved, choosing to avoid interactions with others. Oppositely, Moo Deng is known for her spunky interactions with her caretakers. She lunges, bites, and isn’t afraid to express herself in any way she pleases.
Moo Deng’s first introduction to fame began when her caretakers at the zoo posted her to X following her birth, asking for opinions on what her name should be. She would end up following the same pattern as two of her siblings- her sister’s name Moo Wan means “sweet pork”, her brother’s Moo Tun means “stewed pork”, and Moo Deng, similarly, means “bouncy pork”. Over 20 million fans would take part in deciding her name, and her fame would only grow from then on, especially when her caretakers began to upload videos of her to the zoo’s TikTok page, @khamoo.andthegang. As of now, 3.3 million followers tune in to watch over Moo Deng’s antics at the zoo.
Fans don’t just limit themselves to only enjoying Moo Deng through TikTok clips, however. The zoo has seen an increase in visitors as well, with over 20,000 people visiting at one point just to see Moo Deng, The Independent reports. Her popularity, however, is a double edged sword. On one hand, the zoo has been able to capitalize on her newfound virality, with ticket sales going up, and merchandise being sold. The proceeds go back to the rest of the zoo and their inhabitants, and overall contribute to a better environment and quality of life for the animals. On the other hand, visitors excited to see Moo Deng have been pushing boundaries. One story by Planet Attractions reports that visitors have been caught trying to wake a sleeping Moo Deng by splashing her with water, or throwing items at her. In response, the zoo has installed security cameras and limited visits to 50 at a time, threatening legal action with any visitors caught harassing the animal. Luckily, it seems to have quelled some of the frenzy around her, allowing her to enjoy her peaceful moments sunbathing with her mother or enjoying a bath from her keepers.
Moo Deng is so new to the world and yet so beloved by the members of it. While the future of her species is unsure, her popularity brings hope that more people will contribute to the conservation efforts for pygmy hippos, allowing not just Moo Deng, but all of her species to enjoy happy, fulfilling lives.
