- Moo-Deng, a baby pygmy hippo from Thailand, became an unlikely Internet star when her keeper began posting her on social media
- The zoo is now planning a 24/7 livestream to cope with demand to see the infant
- Some visitors have become abusive and disruptive as they try to make Moo-Deng react – and have been threatened with legal action
She’s captured hearts across the globe.
And now baby pygmy hippo Moo-Deng will be given a 24-hour live feed so that fans can track her movements.
The two-month-old – whose name translates into English as ‘bouncy pork’ – has captivated audiences on social media after zookeeper Atthapon Nundee began posting content of the infant, who resides in Khao Kheow Open Zoo near the city of Pattaya in Thailand.
And now the zoo is struggling to keep up with the high-demand of visitors who are hoping to catch a glimpse of the celebrity – so have come up with a plan for a 24/7 livestream.
Last weekend, Khao Kheow saw a boosted attendance – with more than 10,000 people showing up, instead of around the usual 3000.
Labeled an “icon” and “legend” by Time magazine, who also stated “she is the moment”, Moo Deng – who has two siblings, Moo-Tun, meaning stewed pork, and Moo-Wan, meaning sweet pork – currently spends most of her time sleeping.
Nundee, who is in charge of the dedicated TikTok account devoted to the family of pygmy hippos, told The Guardian, “The moment I saw Moo-Deng born, I set a goal to make her famous, but I never expected it would spread abroad.
He added, “He added that the zoo keeps Moo-Deng and other animals as close to nature as possible, stating that zoos contribute to conservation work.
“I hope that the cuteness of Moo-Deng will raise awareness for people to come and learn about [the species].”
Khao Kheow struggles with disruptive crowds
However, being a globally recognized star doesn’t come without a price.
The zoo has reported disruptive and abusive behavior from some visitors, who are throwing water and other objects at the Moo-Deng to get her to react. Khao Kheow’s director has now threatened legal action against misbehaving visitors.
Interactions with Moo-Deng will now be limited to weekends, with each viewing lasting only five minutes, due to overcrowding.
Group sizes will be capped at 30 to 50 people to better manage crowds, according to zoo authorities.
Move over, Mariah Carey…
