- The internet is going wild for… a baby pygmy hippo
- Moo-Deng was born on July 10 at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand
- She has become a social media sensation, after her keeper began posting videos of her on TikTok
Every so often, an unlikely Internet star is born.
But none have been more surprising than Moo-Deng – a baby pygmy hippo who is taking social media by storm.
The two-month-old – whose name translates into English as ‘bouncy pork’ – has captivated audiences after zookeeper Atthapon Nundee began posting content of the infant, who resides in Khao Kheow Open Zoo near the city of Pattaya in Thailand.
Moo-Deng was born on July 10 – and has become so popular that visits to the zoo have doubled since her birth.
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.
“I thought she could be famous in Thailand but not internationally. She is called ‘bouncy’ and she is quite ‘bouncy’ too.”
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].”
What are pygmy hippos?
Also known as dwarf hippos, pygmy hippos are native to the forests and swamps of West Africa.
Primarily residing in Liberia, they have small populations in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast.
However, the creatures are classified as endangered. Sadly, experts believe there are fewer than 2,500 left in the wild.
Moo-Deng is a social media sensation
Fans have gone wild for Moo-Deng online.
