A baby pygmy hippopotamus has gone viral on social media, thanks to her remarkably expressive face and some adorable and hilarious clips.
Moo Deng has been a star since her birth, with her keepers at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo frequently sharing snippets of her life.
Pygmy hippos are a small species of hippopotamidae, which is native to the forests and swamps of West Africa.
In essence, they look just like tiny hippos – and baby ones are even tinier.
Find out all about Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo that has jettisoned to viral fame, for better or for worse.
Who is Moo Deng?
The name Moo Deng roughly translates to ‘bouncy pig’ in Thai and the name is very fitting.
Born to parents Jonah and Tony on July 10, Moo Deng also has two half-sisters, also named after pork dishes, Moo Tun and Moo Wan, meaning stewed and sweet pork respectively.
Moo Deng’s name was chosen by a popular vote held by the zoo, marking her popularity from the very beginning.
Her online fame has meant that visitor numbers have almost doubled, according to the zoo.
Videos of Moo Deng slipping on a wet slope in her enclosure or opening her mouth in an apparent scream when being fed have led to her overnight celebrity status.
However, it has also resulted in some bad behaviour from guests, with patrons going so far as to throw shellfish or splash water on the baby animal to wake her up.
"It's not only cruel but also dangerous," said zoo manager Narongwit Chodchoi in an online statement condemning the actions. "We must protect these animals and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable environment."
CCTV cameras have been put up around the enclosure, with threats of legal action against any mistreatment of Moo Deng or other zoo animals.
As it stands, a maximum of 50 people are permitted to the area, with five minutes to look at Moo Deng as part of the zoo’s crowd management strategies.
This wouldn’t be the first time that social media fame has resulted in potential harm to animal species, with the RSPCA recently voicing concerns about the trend of “bully cats”.
