She’s an Icon, She’s a Legend, and She Is the Moment. Meet Viral Baby Hippo Moo Deng
A baby pygmy hippo in Thailand is the internet’s latest obsession. But her newfound fame has also sparked concerns for her safety.
Every move she makes is closely watched, each new photo taken of her widely shared and fervently discussed. Her effortlessly dewy glow is the subject of envy and inspiration for fanart and makeup tutorials. Moo Deng, of Thailand, is not your typical A-list celebrity, but she’s certainly being treated like one.
The unbearably adorable two-month-old baby pygmy hippopotamus at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi Province has wriggled her way into the hearts and minds of millions on the internet with her seemingly feisty antics and petrified looks. Social media users can’t get enough of her screaming face—when being sprayed with water, when being carried by zookeepers, or simply while lying on the ground.
Born on July 10—of course she’s sensitive, she’s a Cancer!—Moo Deng was unveiled to the public on July 25. Her name, which roughly translates to “bouncy pig” or “pork patty,” by various interpretations, was chosen by a popular vote held by the zoo.
Since then, well aware of her star power, Moo Deng’s zookeepers have diligently shared photos, videos, and memes of the baby hippo. As Moo Deng’s popularity has climbed, the zoo’s social media accounts (it has over 50,000 followers on X and over 400,000 on Facebook, while accounts dedicated specifically to its collection of hippos and capybaras now have over 200,000 on Instagram and over 2 million on TikTok) have become Moo Deng stan accounts, offering updates on her every move for her obsessed fans all over the world.
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