Moo Deng

This article is about the hippopotamus. For the similarly named pork dish, see Mu daeng.

Moo Deng
หมูเด้ง
Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus, screaming as she is being picked up by a zoo keeper.
Moo Deng in September 2024
SpeciesPygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)
SexFemale
Born (2024-07-10) 10 July 2024 (age 2 months)
ResidenceKhao Kheow Open Zoo, Si Racha, Chonburi, Thailand
Named afterThai for "bouncy pig"

Moo Deng (Thai: หมูเด้ง, RTGS: mu deng, pronounced [mǔː dêŋ] ⓘ, lit. 'bouncy pig') is a pygmy hippopotamus, living in Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Si Racha, Chonburi, Thailand.[1][2] She gained notability at two months of age in September 2024 as a popular Internet meme after images of her went viral online.

Background

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Moo Deng was born on 10 July 2024. Her name was chosen through a public poll, with over 20,000 people voting for "Moo Deng", translating to "bouncy pork" or "bouncy pig".[3][4][5]

Parents and siblings

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Moo Deng's father is Tony (Thai: โทนี่, RTGS: thoni ⓘ), and her mother is Jonah (Thai: โยนาห์, RTGS: yona ⓘ).

Moo Deng has two full siblings:

  • Nadet (Thai: ณเดชน์), born 2010, age 13–14, male
  • Moo Tun (Thai: หมูตุ๋น, RTGS: mu tun ⓘ, lit. 'stewed pork'), born 27 October 2019, age 4, male

She has three half-siblings through her mother's relationship with Rambo (Thai: แรมโบ้, RTGS: raembo):

  • Ko (Thai: โก๊ะ)
  • Kanya (Thai: กันยา)
  • Phalo (Thai: พะโล้)

She also has one half-sibling through her father's relationship with Kanya:

  • Moo Wan (Thai: หมูหวาน, RTGS: mu wan ⓘ, lit. 'sweet pork'), female[6]

Online popularity

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Thai-language news coverage of Moo Deng in September 2024

Khao Kheow Open Zoo posted images of its pygmy hippopotamuses on its official Facebook page, and Moo Deng quickly became a favorite among fans.[7] Moo Deng is noted to be more playful and energetic than other hippopotamuses. In response to her popularity, the zoo announced that it would sell clothing and other merchandise featuring designs based on Moo Deng.[3][8] Other companies have produced merchandise based on Moo Deng, including a cake shop, Vetmon Cafe, which created a realistic cake shaped like her.[9] Additionally, Sephora posted a makeup tutorial inspired by her.[10][11] Moo Deng has become the subject of many pieces of fan art.[12]

Due to Moo Deng's viral online popularity, the number of daily visitors to the zoo doubled in early September 2024.[10] Some visitors have harassed the baby by splashing her with water[11][13] or throwing objects at her to wake her up. As a result, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo installed security cameras around her enclosure and the zoo's director threatened legal action against visitors who harassed her.[14][15][13] The misbehavior by some visitors has been widely condemned online.[16][17] The zoo also implemented a five-minute time limit for visitors in order to accommodate the high volume.[18]

In September 2024, zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi announced that the zoo had begun the process of copyrighting and trademarking "Moo Deng the hippo" to raise funds for the zoo.[5][19] The zoo also plans to launch a continuous livestream to allow fans to watch Moo Deng live over the Internet.[20]

On September 28, Moo Deng was the subject of a Saturday Night Live sketch.[21] She was parodied by Bowen Yang on Weekend Update, and the character was used to satirize American pop-artist Chappell Roan's commentary on fame and political endorsements.[22]

See also

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  • Pesto, another baby zoo animal that gained online popularity in 2024

References

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  1. ^ "Zoos in Thailand - Khao Kheow Open Zoo". sawadee.com. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Khao Kheow Open Zoo - Attractions in Pattaya". pattayaconcierge.com. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Pygmy hippo calf captures hearts at Khao Kheow Open Zoo; fans show interests in pants". Pattaya Mail. 25 July 2024. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  4. ^ Duster, Chandelis (18 September 2024). "Meet Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo so popular you can visit her for only 5 minutes". NPR. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Thailand's adorable pygmy hippo Moo Deng has the kind of face that launches a thousand memes". AP News. 19 September 2024. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  6. ^ "นับญาติ "น้องหมูเด้ง" ตัวตึงสวนสัตว์เปิดเขาเขียว". Manager Online (in Thai). 25 September 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Baby pygmy hippo the star at Chon Buri zoo". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Viral Pygmy Hippo 'Moo Deng' Boosts Khao Kheow Open Zoo Visitors". Khaosod English. 12 September 2024. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Cake of 'Moo Deng' the baby pygmy hippo at Khao Kheow Open Zoo too cute to eat". Pattaya Mail. 12 September 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b March, Nick (13 September 2024). "Moo Deng: Thailand zoo's celebrity baby pygmy hippo". BBC News. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Baby Hippo named Moo becomes viral sensation". NBC News. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  12. ^ Moo-Deng: the two-month-old baby pygmy hippo becoming an online giant. Guardian Australia. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ a b "Viral Thai baby hippo Moo Deng harassed by visitors, zoo chief vows action". The Straits Times. 12 September 2024. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  14. ^ Mather, Katie (12 September 2024). "Baby hippo goes viral on TikTok, doubles Thai zoo's visitor count". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Zoo asks 'Moo Deng' fans to behave". Bangkok Post. 12 September 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  16. ^ Tanakorn, Aim (11 September 2024). "Some Netizens Concerned on How Some Visitors Treat Beloved Baby Hippo Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi". The Pattaya News. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  17. ^ Ewe, Koh (13 September 2024). "She's an Icon, She's a Legend ... She Is Moo Deng". Time. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  18. ^ Na Ranong, Jetjaras; Tiengtae, Nannalin; Hutasingh, Onnucha (14 September 2024). "Five-minute limit set on Moo Deng visits". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Viral Baby Pygmy Hippo Moo Deng Is So Popular She's Working on Obtaining Her Own Patent". People. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Moo Deng, the Baby Pygmy Hippo from Thailand That Has Taken Over the Internet, Is Getting Her Own Livestream". People. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  21. ^ Saturday Night Live (28 September 2024). Weekend Update: Baby Hippo Moo Deng on Fame - SNL. Retrieved 30 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ McCarthy, Anne. "'SNL' Jokes About Chappell Roan Fan Harassment With Bowen Yang Dressed as Celebrity Hippo Moo Deng: 'We Both Deserve Patience and Grace'". Variety. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
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