Thailand’s Cute Baby Hippo Moo Deng Has a Face That Sparks Memes

CHONBURI, Thailand — Just a month after Moo Deng, the charming baby hippo, made her debut on Facebook, she has become a viral sensation with an unstoppable rise to fame.

For those unable to make the two-hour journey from Bangkok to Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Moo Deng’s growing popularity can be enjoyed through countless video clips and memes circulating on social media.

Zookeeper Atthapon Nundee has been sharing delightful moments with the animals under his care for around five years. However, he never anticipated that the newborn pygmy hippo would become such a star so quickly.

On Thursday, visitors began lining up outside the zoo long before its opening hours. People traveled from various locations for a chance to see the plump, expressive two-month-old hippo, located about 100 kilometers southeast of Bangkok. The viewing area was soon crowded with fans who cheered and cooed at every little movement from the pink-cheeked baby.

“The response has been beyond anything I expected,” Atthapon remarked. “I hoped to share her with people; I wanted them to visit or watch her online and leave fun comments. I never thought it would turn into this.”

The name “Moo Deng,” which translates to “bouncy pork” in Thai, was chosen by fans through a social media poll, aligning with the names of her siblings: Moo Toon (stewed pork) and Moo Waan (sweet pork). There’s even a common hippopotamus at the zoo named Kha Moo, meaning “stewed pork leg.”

One excited visitor, Areeya Sripanya, affectionately expressed, “She’s such a little lump. I want to ball her up and swallow her whole!” while admiring Moo Deng at the zoo.

Moo Deng’s whimsical personality has inspired artists to create everything from cartoons to cakes and latte art featuring her likeness. The social media platform X even shared posts highlighting the adorable hippo.

Her image has been cleverly used in memes featuring numerous sports teams, including soccer’s FC Bayern and American teams like the Phoenix Suns and Washington Commanders. Simple edits have placed her into humorous situations and outfits.

Her newfound fame hasn’t gone unnoticed by businesses either. Sephora Thailand created a makeup tip to “wear your blush like a baby hippo,” referencing Moo Deng’s signature pink cheeks. Meanwhile, food delivery app Grab Thailand showcased imaginative meal ideas featuring her cute image.

To safeguard Moo Deng’s identity, zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi mentioned that they have begun the process of copyrighting and trademarking “Moo Deng the hippo.” He believes this will generate additional revenue to improve the animals’ living conditions.

Situated on nearly 2,000 acres, Khao Kheow Open Zoo houses over 2,000 animals and runs breeding programs for many endangered species. The pygmy hippo, native to West Africa, is endangered due to habitat loss and poaching, with only about 2,000 to 3,000 remaining in the wild.

The zoo plans to release merchandise featuring Moo Deng, including shirts and pants, which will be available by the end of the month, with more items to follow.

Moo Deng’s fun name reflects her lively spirit, beautifully captured in Atthapon’s videos and captions. Known for her playful antics, she enjoys “deng”-ing, or bouncing, which has become a favorite moment among her social media followers.

Aside from her energetic moments, followers are treated to images of her playfulness, from squirming during bath time to gently biting Atthapon during play. Even while she sleeps, her adorable nature shines through.

Since Moo Deng’s rise to fame, the zoo has seen a dramatic increase in visitors. They now limit access to her enclosure to five-minute time slots during weekends to manage the crowds.

During an average weekday, the zoo now welcomes over 4,000 visitors, up from approximately 800, and more than 10,000 on weekends, compared to the previous 3,000.

However, her fame has attracted some overly enthusiastic visitors. Some patrons have been spotted tossing water or objects at the sleeping hippo in attempts to awaken her. In response, the zoo has prominently displayed a warning sign in Thai, English, and Chinese against such behavior.

Narongwit stated that the zoo would take action against any mistreatment of the hippo in accordance with animal protection laws. Following reports of poor treatment, they’ve noted an improvement in visitor behavior.

For those unable to visit the zoo, Khao Kheow Open Zoo is preparing to set up cameras and plans to offer a 24-hour live feed of Moo Deng in the near future.