Chonburi —
Moo Deng, a two-month-old pygmy hippopotamus at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, has become an internet sensation just weeks after her debut on social media. Her playful personality and adorable looks have charmed people worldwide, driving a surge in visitors to the zoo, located just a short drive from Pattaya.
The zoo named Moo Deng, which literally means “bouncy pork” in Thai, through a fan poll. Her fame quickly skyrocketed, with fans creating tons of memes and artwork of her. Prominent international media outlets like CNN and Time even wrote articles about the baby hippo, emphasizing that her popularity is no joke.
Visitors now flood the zoo, with daily attendance skyrocketing to over 12,000, compared to a few hundred previously. This prompted the zoo to set time limits for viewing Moo Deng to allow her to rest amid all the excitement.
The zoo’s director, Mr. Narongwit Chodchoi, has announced that the fame surrounding Moo Deng is benefiting the zoo’s conservation programs. Merchandise featuring the baby hippo will be sold to support the care of endangered animals like the pygmy hippo, whose numbers are drastically dwindling in the wild. Khao Kheow Open Zoo is home to over 2,000 animals and runs breeding programs to help protect species threatened by poaching and habitat loss. The zoo is also copywriting Moo Deng’s likeness and name.
For those unable to visit Moo Deng in person, the zoo plans to launch a 24-hour live feed so fans worldwide can enjoy watching her antics online. As of now, Moo Deng’s fame continues to grow, bringing attention not only to her cuteness but also to the critical conservation work being done at the zoo.
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