Moo Deng – the small and adorable hippo – has become a new internet sensation, not only for his cute appearance but also for the humane values he embodies.
Recently, the online community has been buzzing about Moo Deng – the 2-month-old baby hippo, who is playful and full of energy at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand. Since his debut, Moo Deng has quickly become an internet phenomenon, attracting millions of views and hundreds of thousands of comments across social media platforms.
Moo Deng is a pygmy hippo – a subspecies of the common hippopotamus, native to West Africa. This “baby” has become the center of attention due to his irresistible cuteness, chubby body, big round eyes, and genuine “smile.”
The name of this hippo was chosen through an online poll conducted on social media in August. About 20,000 people voted for the name Moo Deng, which means “jumping pork” – the name of a popular dish in Thailand.
The pygmy hippo Moo Deng, 2 months old, has become a rising internet sensation in Thailand. (Photo: Khao Kheow Open Zoo).
Moo Deng’s rosy cheeks and natural cuteness. (Photo: Khao Kheow Open Zoo).
The first video of Moo Deng captured the little hippo frolicking and showing shocked expressions, with a hint of grumpiness when being cared for by the zoo staff… quickly went viral upon its release on social media. Within just a few hours, this video garnered millions of views and thousands of comments. Netizens expressed their love and amazement at Moo Deng’s adorableness.
Following this, Moo Deng continued to appear in numerous videos and images showcasing everyday moments like playing, happily eating, or relaxing. Each appearance brought a fresh vibe, melting the hearts of millions of viewers. A standout video on Facebook showing Moo Deng yawning and enjoying a gentle chin rub reached nearly 6 million views.
These captivating short videos of Moo Deng not only attracted social media users but also made headlines in mainstream media. Besides renowned news outlets like Time, The Guardian, many television channels produced special reports about this adorable hippo, contributing to Moo Deng’s growing fame.
Visitor numbers at Khao Kheow Open Zoo have surged. (Photo: Khao Kheow Open Zoo).
Moo Deng often has delightful and charming reactions. (Photo: Nation Thailand).
The allure of Moo Deng extends beyond Thailand and spreads to many Asian countries. Initially drawn by his adorable appearance, Moo Deng’s image on social media has gradually become associated with wildlife conservation messages.
The sudden interest from netizens has led to a 30% increase in visitor numbers at Khao Kheow Zoo. The facility has to limit the time guests can spend with Moo Deng to 5 minutes per visit to ensure everyone has a chance to see the baby hippo.
Currently, Khao Kheow Zoo welcomes between 3,000 to 4,000 visitors on weekdays and around 20,000 on weekends. Many people plan to visit just to see Moo Deng in person and take photos with him. Khao Kheow will also soon launch clothing and other merchandise featuring the adorable image of Moo Deng.
The internet phenomenon Moo Deng is believed to not only enrich the diversity of content across social media platforms but also raise community awareness about wildlife conservation.
