A two-month-old pygmy hippo, has turn into an web sensation throughout Thailand and past, after footage of her wobbling round her enclosure, nibbling her zookeeper and being sprayed with water have gone viral on-line.
Moo-Deng has captured hearts throughout Asia, muffins have been made in her picture, whereas on-line followers have made paintings exhibiting off her cartoonish rosy cheeks and vibrant eyes. One cosmetics chain even jumped on the pattern, telling social media customers “put on your blush like a child hippo”, alongside a collection of merchandise in pink and peach tones. In a mirrored image of her rising international clout, Time journal’s web site named her an “Icon” and “Legend”, saying “She Is the Second”.
Her fame stems from a TikTok account devoted to the hippos, and different species, at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand. The account has 2.5 million followers, whereas a whole lot of 1000’s of individuals observe accounts documenting their every day life on Fb and Instagram.
Atthapon Nundee, 31, a zookeeper at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, mentioned he started posting clips of animals on social media through the pandemic, when he discovered he had extra spare time on his palms. Moo-Deng, whose identify means “bouncy pork”, additionally the identify of a Thai dish, has attracted essentially the most consideration by far.
“The second I noticed Moo-Deng born, I set a aim to make her well-known, however I by no means anticipated it could unfold overseas. I believed she could possibly be well-known in Thailand however not internationally,” he mentioned.
Vacationers’ social media movies have helped her obtain fame on-line, however so too has her character, he mentioned. “She is named ‘bouncy’ and she or he is kind of ‘bouncy’ too,” Atthapon mentioned. Her siblings are additionally referred to as variations of pork dishes: her step-sister is named Moo Wan (Thai candy pork), her different step-sister is named Pha Lor (pork stomach stew), and her brother is named Moo Tun (stewed pork).
Her reputation has created a surge in guests to the zoo, which has raised considerations about her welfare. Vacationers have been accused of throwing water and seashells at Moo Deng to wake her, apparently as a result of they wished to take pictures.
The zoo authorities have condemned those that have tried to disturb Moo-Deng, and Atthapon mentioned CCTV has been put in, and an officer is current to look at over her.
“More often than not she is sleeping,” mentioned Atthapon, who added her behaviour is much like a human child, with playful outbursts and plenty of relaxation. “She solely has milk from mother, she doesn’t eat the rest moreover milk.” At two months previous, she already weighs greater than 20kg, and it’s potential that she is going to start to eat grass subsequent month.
Grownup pygmy hippos additionally prefer to sleep loads through the day, “Largely they only sleep and soak within the water as a result of it will get fairly sizzling.”
Pygmy hippos are listed as endangered on the IUCN Crimson Record. A 1993 research urged there have been between 2,000 to 2,5000 pygmy hippos remaining within the wild. They’re native to West Africa, the place they stay in swamps and close to rivers, however are threatened by habitat loss as a result of human actions corresponding to logging, mining, in addition to looking.
Edwin Wiek, founding father of Wildlife Pals Basis Thailand, questioned the necessity for extra pygmy hippos to be stored in zoo settings, the place they’ve already been bred efficiently, saying the main focus needs to be on retaining them within the wild. “They’re very endangered, however truly, with the correct enforcement and conservation plan within the wild – depart them alone, they’ll do rather well.”
Atthapon mentioned the zoo retains Moo-Deng and different animals as near nature as potential, and that zoos contribute to conservation work.
“I hope that the cuteness of Moo-Deng will increase consciousness for individuals to come back and find out about [the species],” Atthapon mentioned.
