A two-month-old baby pygmy hippopotamus has become a hot topic after its caretakers shared a video of it on TikTok and Instagram.
Just a month after Thai baby hippopotamus Moo Deng appeared on social media, she has become an internet sensation.
Fans who can't make the two-hour journey from Bangkok to Khao Kheow Open Zoo to see her can enjoy her adorable videos and memes online.
Zookeeper Attapong Nundee has been sharing adorable animal moments at the zoo for about five years, but he never expected a newborn pygmy hippopotamus at the zoo to become an internet star so quickly.
Cars lined up outside the zoo as people came to catch a glimpse of the chubby, mischievous animal.
According to the Associated Press, the enclosure where the baby hippo was with his mother, Jonah, quickly filled to capacity, with visitors reacting excitedly to the baby's every cute move.
Mu Deng draws attention to endangered species
The two-month-old baby pygmy hippo has been going viral since zookeepers shared a video of it at the zoo on TikTok and Instagram, garnering millions of views and drawing thousands of tourists eager to see it, as its playful antics and adorable expressions are captured on video.
Named Moo Daeng, which means “bouncy pork” in Thai after the popular snack, the baby has become a poster child for the now-critically endangered pygmy hippopotamus.
Despite his newfound fame, Mu Deng has kept his feet on the ground: He stays close to his mother and enjoys a diet of carrots, bananas, corn, and green beans, according to the Associated Press.
A plump and playful baby pygmy hippopotamus is drawing crowds at Khao Kheow Zoo in Chon Buri, Thailand.
Videos and photos of two-month-old baby Mu Deng have been going viral on social media, with people delighted by his adorable appearance.pic.twitter.com/857KRqc2Cx
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) September 12, 2024
But after a video was released showing people mistreating the young hippo, zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi urged visitors to treat Mu Deng with respect.
In a statement shared online, he stressed that such practices are not only cruel, but also dangerous.
“We need to protect these animals and provide them with a safe and comfortable environment,” he said.
Footage posted on social media showed visitors throwing shells and splashing water on Mu Deng in an attempt to wake him up.
In response, the zoo has installed CCTV cameras around the enclosure and has warned that legal action will be taken against anyone who mistreats the hippos, the BBC reports.
The pygmy hippopotamus, also known as the dwarf hippopotamus, is native to West Africa. It is listed as “endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Fewer than 3,000 are thought to remain in the wild.
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