Bangkok Post – Moo Deng a global media sensation

Baby hippo in Chon Buri attracts legions of international fans and countless online tributes

Moo Deng, The two-month-old pygmy hippopotamus at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri is becoming a worldwide media sensation and is attracting more and more international fans.

Time The magazine published a passionate tribute on Friday, saying Moo Deng had won the hearts of millions of internet users who had watched videos of her playful behavior as she was splashed with water, carried by zookeepers or simply lying in the sun.

“Meet Viral Baby Hippo Moo Deng: She’s an Icon” Time proclaimed the headline. “She's a legend and she's the moment,” was the subheadline of the post, which was accompanied by numerous tweets and videos.

Moo Deng was also honored by the Guardianthe BBC, the Straits Times of Singapore and several Japanese television stations, including Fuji Television and ANN.

Fans in Japan have produced countless images of the young hippo. Some have baked cakes with her image and others have created artwork to depict her facial features.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo has also rushed to produce shirts and shorts with her image for fans to buy online, and a fan club follows her activities through regular posts and updates.

According to zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi, Moo Deng spends most of her time sleeping, except during bathing time between 8 and 9 a.m. and her mother's feeding time at 2 p.m.

He also asked visitors not to throw objects at the sleeping hippo to protect it. The zoo has installed surveillance cameras around the enclosures and will consider legal action to protect its charges, he added.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi presents the latest must-have fashion with a picture of Thai superstar Moo Deng. (Photo: Khao Kheow Open Zoo Facebook)