A baby hippo has gone viral on social media, inspiring dozens of Thai and international fans to line up outside her enclosure early in the morning. The zoo’s TikTok account has racked up tens of millions of views on videos featuring Moo Deng.
Moo Deng, which roughly translates to “bouncing pig,” is a two-month-old female pygmy hippopotamus. Pygmy hippos are an endangered species There are fewer than 3,000 specimens left in the wild.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand has asked visitors to behave around the internet’s favourite hippo. The zoo claims that the number of weekend visitors has doubled since Moo Deng debuted in late July — even inspiring zoo merchandise.
The Bangkok Post reported that zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi had seen videos circulating of guests throwing things and splashing water at Moo Deng while she was sleeping. He said the zoo had installed CCTV cameras around the enclosures and that the zoo could consider legal action if guests did not comply with the rules.