“Moo Deng” - the irresistible star of Khao Kheow Zoo

‘Moo Deng’ is the name of a pygmy hippopotamus, which has been trending on X recently. She is a resident of Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri province.

With big round eyes and an endearing face, ‘Moo Deng’ has become a new favourite among social media users in Thailand, Japan, Korea and China.

Xiaohongshu users are calling her “弹跳猪" (Tan Tiao Zhu), which has become a hashtag with almost 900,000 views to date.

This pygmy hippo even has its own social media page and netizens are turning its pictures into memes, with captions like “what did I do wrong?” - reflecting her innocent expression.

Moo Deng - the little superstar

Narongwit Chodchoy, Khao Kheow Open Zoo’s Director, told Thai PBS that ‘Moo Deng’ is currently their hottest star, attracting lots of extra visitors, especially at weekends.

Visitor numbers on Saturdays and Sundays are reported to have more than doubled, from 3,000 to 6,000 or 7,000 each day.

Businesses in the area are also enjoying the welcome boost in trade.

Moo Deng’s notable features include big black eyes, plump cheeks and glowing moist skin. Although she is a pygmy hippo, her name actually means ‘bouncy pig’.

Moo Deng is 2 months old. She has had all the qualities of a celebrity since she was very little. Everything she does is cute, from bouncing around, to her sleeping pose when she drinks milk. She is also very attached to her mother, according to Narongwit.

Narongwit also says that some visitors can be a bit impatient to snap her picture. They try to wake her up from her nap by throwing bananas at her. The zoo has since posted a sign, asking visitors not to do this, and have installed security cameras. Those who violate the rules could face animal cruelty charges.

The zoo has also arranged an appearance schedule for Moo Deng. 8am to 9am is playtime with the keepers. This is when cleaning also takes place.

Moo Deng takes her morning nap at 9am, then gets ready for the afternoon viewing session, from 2pm to 3pm, after which, she needs another nap.

Moo Deng’s Bio

She was born on June 10th this year to pygmy hippo parents, Jona (25 years old) and Tony (24 years old). Moo Deng has two siblings, called ‘Moo Tun’ and ‘Moo Wan’.

Pygmy hippos are originally from West Africa and are on the list of endangered animals. Their natural habitat is usually close to a watercourse and they are nocturnal. Their favourite foods include fruit and grass.

A mature pygmy hippo can weigh up to 300kg and they can live for up to 55 years.