'I set out to make her famous': The baby pygmy hippo who became a giant online | Thailand

A two-month-old pygmy hippopotamus has become an internet sensation in Thailand and elsewhere after footage went viral showing it wiggling around in its enclosure, nibbling at its keeper and being sprayed with water.

Moo-Deng has won hearts across Asia. Fans have baked cakes with her image and created artwork depicting her rosy cheeks and bright eyes in a cartoon style. Even a cosmetics chain has jumped on the trend, urging social media users to “apply your blush like a baby hippo” in posts promoting products in pink and peach tones. Reflecting her growing global influence, Time magazine's website called her an “icon” and “legend,” saying, “She is the moment.”

She rose to fame through a TikTok account with 2.5 million followers dedicated to the hippos and other animals at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand. Hundreds of thousands of people also follow accounts documenting her daily life on Facebook and Instagram.

Atthapon Nundee, 31, a zookeeper at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, said he started posting video clips of animals on social media during the pandemic when he found he had more free time on his hands. Moo-deng, whose name means “springy pork” and is also the name of a Thai dish, has attracted by far the most attention.

“When I saw Moo-Deng's birth, I set a goal to make her famous, but I never expected it to spread abroad. I thought she could become famous in Thailand, but not internationally,” he said.

The social media videos posted by tourists have helped her become famous online, but so has her personality, he said. “She is called 'bouncy' and she is quite 'bouncy,'” Atthapon said. Her siblings are also called variations of pork dishes: her half-sister is called Moo Wan (Thai sweet pork), her other half-sister is called Pha Lor (pork belly stew) and her brother is called Moo Tun (braised pork).

Her popularity has led to a rush of visitors to the zoo, which in turn has raised concerns about her welfare. Tourists have been accused of throwing water and seashells at Moo Deng to wake her up, apparently because they wanted to take photos.

Zoo authorities have condemned those who tried to disturb Moo-Deng. Atthapon said video surveillance has been installed and an officer is on site to monitor her.

“Most of the time she sleeps,” said Atthapon, who added that her behavior is similar to that of a human baby, with playful outbursts and plenty of rest. “She only gets milk from mom, she doesn't eat anything else except milk.” At two months old, she already weighs more than 20 kg and it's possible that she will start eating grass next month.

Adult pygmy hippos also like to sleep a lot during the day. “Most of the time they just sleep and lie in the water because it gets quite hot,” said Atthapon.

Pygmy hippos are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. A 1993 study found that there are between 2,000 and 2,500 pygmy hippos left in the wild. They are native to West Africa, where they live in swamps and near rivers. However, they are threatened by habitat loss due to human activities such as deforestation, mining and hunting.

Edwin Wiek, founder of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, questioned the need to keep more pygmy hippos in zoos, where they have already been successfully bred. He said the focus should be on keeping them in the wild. “They are very endangered, but with the right measures and conservation plans in the wild – let's leave them alone – they can thrive really well.”

Atthapon said the zoo keeps Moo-Deng and other animals as close to their natural habitat as possible and that zoos contribute to species conservation work.

“I hope that Moo-Deng’s cuteness will raise people’s awareness and make them learn more about [the species]”, said Atthapon.