- Pygmy hippo calf Moo-Deng found unlikely internet fame this summer
- But now a new calf has hit social media – Haggis, who was born at Edinburgh Zoo on October 30
- Fans have expressed their outrage that the two calves have been ‘pitted against each other’
She was the social media star of the summer.
But now it seems that Moo-Deng has been replaced with another pygmy hippo.
The calf – who was welcomed at Khao Kheow Open Zoo near the city of Pattaya in Thailand – took the internet by storm after her birth on July 10, with a live feed even being set up in her enclosure so fans across the world could keep up to date with her antics.
However, show business is fickle – and this week, Edinburgh Zoo announced that Moo-Deng has a contender.
“Moo Deng? Who deng? Introducing… Haggis,” the Scottish zoo shared to their Twitter/X account. “Otto and Gloria have welcomed an ADORABLE pygmy hippo calf! She is doing well, but we’ll be keeping the hippo house closed for the time being so that our expert keepers can keep a close eye on mum and baby at this sensitive time.”
Dubbing the calf – who was born on October 30 – “Edinburghzoodeng”, others referenced Love Island and joked that “a hot new bombshell has entered the villa”.
“CAST MOO DENG ASIDE, I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THAT OLD HAS-BEEN HAG ANYMORE, ONLY HAGGIS CONTENT FROM NOW ON,” said someone else.
Others drew similarities to body horror movie The Substance, in which Demi Moore is replaced by Margaret Qualley.
“It’s so calm and doesn’t have any rolls. Like Moo-Deng took The Substance,” wrote one.
Some people also hoped that the pair would work it out on the remix, as Charli XCX and Lorde did in their track, Girl, So Confusing.
“See how women are pitted against each other literally from birth? Girl_So_Confusing.mp3,” someone joked.
‘Haggis would never attack her pygmy comrade Moo-Deng!’
Some were outraged that the pygmy calves had been portrayed as rivals.
“Why are we pitting two women against each other? This industry is vile!!!” said one, while another added, “We need to stop pitting female celebrities against each other! There’s room for everybody!!”
“Is there not enough room on God’s beautiful green earth for two baby pygmy hippos?” questioned someone else, as another wrote, “Haggis would never attack her pygmy comrade Moo-Deng like this.”
“Don’t do this… scarcity mentality has no place in Moo-Deng’s world of love and appreciation for all strong women who are just STRUGGLING to make it through every damn DAY in this GODFORSAKEN WORLD!! Open your mind, Edinburgh Zoo, the deep caverns of the heart are limitless,” begged another.
The zoo quickly got involved, and wrote a tongue in cheek apology post to their followers.
“We were wrong to pit Haggis and Moo Deng against each other,” they wrote. “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.”
But some seemed to think the real crime was Haggis’s name.
“Scotland: we are a nation full of culture and art and do not appreciate stereotypes and haggis jokes,” tweeted one follower. “Now, the new baby hippo will bring us lots of media attention and is a great way to show off our vibrant society. What have you named it?
“Edinburgh Zoo: right don’t get mad…”
