The zoo keepers at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand are requesting visitors to be considerate and show restraint when interacting with Moo Deng.
The two-month-old hippo has been causing a huge frenzy online after her caretaker posted pictures and clips of her on TikTok. Some of these posts have received more than a million likes and over 30 million views.
Not only people from Thailand, but also visitors from other places, have been coming to the zoo specifically to see Moo Deng. The zoo has reported that the number of visits has gone up in the past two months.
A lot of merch inspired by the baby hippo is now being sold online, and cosmetic brands like Sephora are taking advantage of its popularity by promoting their products and making references to Moo Deng.
Overall, the recent surge in attention, and of course visitors, has brought the Zoo many benefits, but it has also exposed the pygmy hippo to animal cruelty. According to the BBC, online videos show some visitors throwing objects like shellfish and splashing water on Moo Deng to wake her up. NBC News reports that the zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi has labeled the act as “dangerous” and has warned of legal action against anyone found harming Moo Deng.
“We must protect these animals and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable environment,” says the director to local media. Currently, visiting hours for Moo Deng have been restricted, and visitors are allowed to see her only when she’s awake. Additionally, a security guard and cameras have been set up to monitor her enclosure.
Moo Deng’s name can be translated to mean “bouncing pig” or “bouncy park” in Thai. According to the Pygmy Hippo Foundation, pygmy hippos are one of the most endangered species in the world, with less than 3000 remaining in the wild. These animals, which are native to West Africa, are being safeguarded from poachers who are causing their numbers to drop.
