A small hippopotamus from Thailand became a star of social networks: the best photos and videos
Mu-Deng the Little Hippopotamus
Photo: Khao Kheow Open Zoo
A new social media star has appeared in Thailand – a 2-month-old pygmy hippopotamus named Mu-Deng (Moo for short), born at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo.
The baby hippopotamus is famous for its funny behavior and cute appearance (for example, pink cheeks, like a character from a cartoon).
Videos about Mu’s life have garnered millions of views, and tourists have lined up outside the zoo to catch a glimpse of her.
CNN, NBC, The Guardian and Bangkok Post.
What is the famous “jumping pig” Mu-Deng?
Mu-Deng was born on July 10 to Yona’s mother and Tony’s father, who already had two children.
The name Mu-Deng, which translates from Thai as “jumping pig”, was chosen for the animal by 20 thousand followers on Facebook.
At the age of two months, a hippopotamus weighs more than 20 kg and feeds on mother’s milk. She will probably start eating grass next month.
Most of the time, the little hippopotamus sleeps and likes to take water procedures. At the same time, she bites the caretakers’ knees, opens her mouth funny and plays.
In August, the zoo staff started posting videos of hippos having fun, which won the hearts of many users.
The zoo’s TikTok account already has 2.5 million followers, and Mu-Deng’s most popular Facebook video, in which she yawns and enjoys being petted by a keeper, has garnered 7.3 million views.
Fans bake Mu-Deng cakes and paint pictures of her cartoonish pink cheeks and bright eyes. One cosmetic chain even urged its customers to “wear blush like a hippopotamus.”
To cope with the influx of tourists, the zoo began offering visitors paid overnight stays in cabins so they could avoid queuing early in the morning.
However, the director of the zoo, Narongwit Chodchoi, is not too happy about Mu-Deng’s great fame.
According to him, when the little hippopotamus became popular, visits to the zoo increased by 30%, but some visitors behaved inappropriately – doused the animal with water, threw objects at it.
“Some tourists behaved inappropriately“, said the director of the zoo, promising to punish anyone who insults the animals.
Workers have already installed a video surveillance system. Also, a guard began to watch over Mu-Deng.
The best time to see Mu-Deng at the zoo is between 8 and 9 in the morning when the keepers are cleaning her enclosure.
“At this time, Mu-Deng will be energetic as the caretaker will sprinkle water around,” – says Narongvit Chodchoi.
Also, the star animal can be found in the enclosure after lunch, when its mother Jonah is being fed. The little hippopotamus is still very attached to its mother.
In addition to hippos, the zoo is also home to penguins, tapirs, various primates, rhinoceroses, elephants and incredible capybaras. Just look at these photos!
We will remind you that pygmy hippos are relatives of ordinary hippos from West Africa, which weigh about ten times less, reach about 150-175 cm in length and have a height of 75-100 cm.
The species is included in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature as endangered.
According to animal rights activists, there are only about 2,000 pygmy hippos left in the wild. They live mainly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast.
