Moo Deng, celebrity baby pygmy hippo, worries Thai zoo

Her toothless chewing skills have already become an internet hit, and now Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo, is starring in cosmetics ads and is fast becoming a brand ambassador for Thailand.

But the meteoric rise of the 2-month-old baby girl and her internet fame has prompted keepers to urge visitors to exercise restraint and limit their visits to Khao Kheow Open Zoo.

Moo Deng, also known as the “jumping pig,” was named after a vote by more than 20,000 children and tourists on the Facebook page of the zoo in Chonburi, a city in eastern Thailand where she was born in July.

The hippo has become an internet sensation since his caretakers began posting videos online of him going about his day, sleeping, walking around his enclosure and biting his keepers’ knees while being hosed down during a bath.

Like any other celebrity, Moo Deng has dozens of fan pages on social media, featuring photos and videos capturing every moment of her public life.

The Thai embassy in Tokyo also posted photos of Moo Deng on X, inviting visitors to the zoo in Japanese.

Beauty brand Sephora is promoting its blush products in Thailand to achieve the same “pink and peachy hue” of Moo Deng’s cheeks. The Bangkok bakery said on Facebook on Sunday that it would have to limit orders for cakes resembling Moo Deng because demand was so high.

Moo Deng is also the subject of countless internet memes and fanart.

A TikTok video showing keeper Moo Deng playing with a hippo has been viewed more than 33 million times and has more than 2 million likes. “This baby hippo looks like it just hatched,” reads one comment.

Moo Deng’s other TikTok videos have also racked up millions of views. Another 29-second video published on X Footage of Moo Deng eating vegetables has been viewed more than 15 million times.

However, her keepers are increasingly concerned about her safety, as some fans have been throwing water and other objects at Moo Deng. The zoo director has threatened legal action.

Zoo officials said Sunday that hippo visits would be limited to Saturday and Sunday, with each viewing session lasting five minutes.

“These behaviors are not only cruel, but also dangerous,” zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi said, according to local media. “We must protect these animals and provide them with a safe and comfortable environment,” he said.

Pygmy hippos are classified as an endangered species, and their population is dwindling due to poaching. According to the Pygmy Hippo Foundation, there are estimated to be just 2,000 left in the wild.

An adult pygmy hippo can live up to 50 years and grow to half the height of a full-sized hippo. In the wild, they feed mainly on grass, leaves, shoots, and fallen fruit.