Pygmy hippo sensation Moo Deng boosts Thai zoo and local economy

A young pygmy hippopotamus, born in a zoo in Thailand, is making a whirlwind career on social media. Moo Deng's popularity is also impacting the local community.

A new star has been born on the internet — Moo Deng. She was born on July 10 and has already won the hearts of tens of millions of social media users. Videos featuring her on TikTok are guaranteed to go viral. Moo Deng lives with her mother in the Khao Kheow Zoo in Thailand and is a pygmy hippopotamus.

The new zoo resident became a social media hit when her caretakers started posting short videos of her life online. Little Moo Deng adorably devours grapes, rolls around on the floor of her enclosure, or bathes in the scorching Thai sun. She nibbles on her caretakers' knees while they try to bathe her. Narongwit Chodchoy, the zoo director, told CNN, "It is her natural cuteness, her behavior that attract tourists."

Originating from West Africa, pygmy hippopotamuses are smaller cousins of full-sized hippos. Adults measure approximately 31 inches in height at the shoulders. According to the British Pygmy Hippo Foundation, only about 2,000 pygmy hippos live in the wild, mainly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast.

Chodchoy admitted that Moo Deng's popularity has doubled the number of weekend visitors to Khao Kheow Open Zoo, east of Bangkok. Even local businesses near the zoo, such as shops and restaurants, have felt the revival. The best time to see the little star in action is in the mornings between 8:00 and 9:00 AM when caretakers clean her enclosure. "This will be the time Moo Deng will be energetic as the keeper will splash the water around," Chodchoy informed.

Moo Deng's name means "bouncing pig" in Thai, and it is also a popular pork dish known for its bouncy texture. According to the zoo, 20,000 Facebook users chose the name in an August poll. Her older siblings, Moo Toon, and Moo Warn, were also named after items on the Thai menu.