Moo-Deng: Baby pygmy hippo gets harassed by zoo visitors as videos go viral

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A two-month-old baby pygmy hippo in Thailand who went viral on social media has been harassed by visitors, leading to zoo authorities adding additional security around her enclosure.

Moo Deng, whose name translates to “bouncy pork”, became instantly popular after clips of her on the zoo’s TikTok account caught the notice of people online.

Born on 10 June to parents Jona and Tony at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Moo Deng has two siblings, Moo Tun, meaning stewed pork, and Moo Wan, meaning sweet pork. She was first revealed to the public on 25 July, and her name was chosen after a vote held by the zoo.

“The moment I saw Moo-Deng born, I set a goal to make her famous, but I never expected it would spread abroad. I thought she could be famous in Thailand but not internationally,” zookeeper Atthapon Nundee told The Guardian.

Social media users can’t get enough of the adorable hippo going about her day—whether she’s sprayed with water, carried by zookeepers, showing off her new teeth, or simply lying on the ground in her enclosure.

Moo Deng’s popularity has caused a massive surge in visitors to the zoo, seeing anywhere between 6,000 and 7,000 on the weekends, reported Thai PBS.

However, not all the attention Moo Deng is receiving is welcome. In a video shared on social media, Moo Deng is sleeping in her enclosure when a visitor pours water on her. Other visitors have thrown bananas and shellfish at her to try and get her attention.

Narongwit Chodchoi, director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo, on Thursday released a statement asking visitors not to throw objects at her or make loud noises. He warned that the zoo would take legal action against those who do not behave, according to the Bangkok Post.

“These behaviours are not only cruel but also dangerous,” he said. “We must protect these animals and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable environment.”

He added that the zoo had installed surveillance cameras in the area and an officer had been appointed to watch over her.

Moo Deng, who Time magazine has dubbed “legend” and “the moment”, has inspired fanart, zoo merchandise, and even makeup looks from Sephora.

A popular cafe in Bangkok, the Vetmon Cafe, created a cake in her honour, which is being called “too cute to eat”.

Native to western Africa, pygmy hippos are listed as an endangered species, with reports saying only about 2,000 of them remain in the wild.

Indonesia, meanwhile, had cause to celebrate as it welcomed the birth of a baby Javan rhinoceros, one of the world’s most critically endangered species.

The environment and forestry ministry announced the birth along with footage captured in May from Ujung Kulon National Park on the western tip of Java island. The footage showed the baby calf, named Iris, walking with her mother.

There are only about 80 Javan rhinoceros left in the world, all in Indonesia, according to the International Rhino Foundation.