A baby pygmy hippopotamus from Thailand has become an internet sensation, winning the hearts of millions with its adorableness.
Moo Den, whose name means “bouncy pork”, was born to parents Jonah and Tony at Khao Kheow Zoo in Chonburi province on June 10. She has two siblings – Moo Tung, which means “stewed pork”, and Moo Wan, which means “sweet pork”.
On the occasion of Mu Den’s debut, the zoo Instagram The post, translated into English, read: “Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Mu Deng, I am a female pygmy hippopotamus born on Wednesday 10th June 2024. My mum is Jonah, 25 years old and my dad is Tony, 24 years old. I am currently single and 59 days old. 🤣🤣”
of Zoo’s Instagram page The TikTok account is packed with content featuring Mu Deng. FollowAs of press time, she has over 2.6 million followers, and the zoo’s gift shop is even selling merchandise in her honor, including a button-down shirt and pants set.
But why are Mu Deng’s breeders worried about her growing fame?
According to Thailand PBS World According to news media, the zoo “reported a doubling of attendance on Saturday and Sunday from 3,000 to 6,000-7,000 people a day,” with many of the visitors flocking to the Mooden enclosure.
อ่อนโยนก็เป็นนะคะ #online #สวนสัตว์เปิดเขาเขียว pic.twitter.com/ZnGavRHgJQ
— Khao Kheow Open Zoo (@kkopzoo) September 14, 2024
Unfortunately, the increased interest has also led to some incidents of baby hippos being mistreated, leading the zoo to issue warnings to visitors. They allegedly splashed water and threw shellfish at him. In Muden, security cameras were installed to wake the hippos up. Zoos have responded by installing security cameras around the hippo’s habitat to monitor visitors and ensure the hippos’ safety.
“Such behaviour is not only cruel but also dangerous,” the zoo’s director said. Narongwit Chodchoi“We must protect these animals and ensure they live in a safe and comfortable environment,” he said in a statement, adding that the zoo may consider legal action against uncooperative visitors.
Follow Baby Hippo #Hippo #ขาหมูแอนด์เดอะแก๊ง
The zoo encourages visitors to come when Mu Deng is awake, and recently Social Media: “Little #BouncingPig wakes up bouncing from 8-9am, especially when he’s in the shower. Then he goes back to sleep and wakes up bouncing again at 2pm. Come meet him.”
What is a pygmy hippopotamus?
Pygmy hippos are native to West Africa and are listed as endangered, with only around 2,000 reported to remain in the wild, mainly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire, according to the UK-based Pygmy Hippo Foundation.
Unlike the larger and better known common hippopotamus, the pygmy hippopotamus is adapted to life on land and spends little time in the water. They are about half the height of a common hippopotamus and weigh between 400 and 600 pounds (180 to 270 kg). Pygmy hippos are primarily herbivores, eating leaves, ferns, fruits, and roots.