Defiant, sassy, slippery, chubby, loves to scream. We can all relate.
If you have yet to come across the internet’s favorite pygmy hippopotamus, then meet Moo Deng. She’s a bit of a diva.
“The hottest, hottest new It girl on the planet,” Hoda Kotb, a co-anchor on the “Today” show, said during a recent episode. “She’s redefining beauty standards: She’s got chubby pink cheeks, a distinct potato shape.”
Since Moo Deng’s public introduction by the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri, Thailand, south of Bangkok, on July 25, when she was 2 weeks old, her star has only risen.
Her name, which translates to “bouncy pork,” was chosen by a poll held on the zoo’s Facebook page; around 20,000 people voted. There were three options: Moo Deng, Moo Sap (minced pork) and Moo Daeng (red pork). Moo Deng won easily.
Yammi Saracino, a ceramacist and content creator born in Bangkok, has taken credit for the hippo’s initial international fame. When he saw the poll, he felt compelled to translate it into English so that a broader audience would find her.
“The winner clearly was Moo Deng,” he said. “I think that partially had something to do with me, because I was like, ‘I’m voting for this name, so help me vote for this name.’”
Interest outside the zoo has been huge ever since, with the young pygmy hippo being mentioned by companies, sports teams, public transit, buildings, an encyclopedia and meme lovers all over the world. There is even a cryptocurrency that bears her likeness.
The whole adventure has raised awareness for pygmy hippopotamuses, which are smaller and more land loving than a common hippo. They are native to the swamps and forests of West Africa and there are fewer than 3,000 of the animals in the wild. That being said, Moo Deng is not the only one to gain internet fame: Toni, a pygmy hippo at Tierpark Berlin, has also had people talking this summer. But Mr. Saracino believes Moo Deng has been able to stand out, thanks to her cuteness and spunky personality.
“Moo Deng specifically, even in comparison to her siblings, is really bouncy and really feisty,” he said. “She has no teeth but is adamant about biting her keeper.”
There is hope among the staffs at the zoos involved that the starring role that Moo Deng and Toni have played could have a positive long-term effect for other pygmy hippos.
“With their childlike behavior, baby animals have the wonderful potential to draw even greater attention to endangered animal species,” said Philine Hachmeister, the deputy head of communications and marketing at Tierpark Berlin, adding: “Animals help to build a bridge and are a good introduction to the complex interrelationships of nature.”
All of the attention on Moo Deng has also, unfortunately, come with a few bumps. Tourists began throwing things at her enclosure in hopes of waking her, leaving the zoo concerned for her safety. Narongwit Chodchoi, the zoo’s director, told The Associated Press that the zoo has had to limit viewing windows at Moo Deng’s enclosure to five minutes and to enhance the road to accommodate the amount of traffic.
The zoo also said that it would take legal action against any visitors who were disrespectful toward Moo Deng. “The whole country cheered when that happened,” Mr. Saracino said.
If all of this sounds at least a little familiar, it may be because in 2017, another baby hippo took the internet by storm. In January of that year, the Cincinnati Zoo announced the premature arrival of Fiona, a common river hippopotamus, and proceeded to post photos daily at noon for the clamoring public.
“We definitely didn’t always know she would be a star,” said Jenna Wingate, the head keeper of the Africa department at the Cincinnati Zoo. “But we figured it out pretty quickly.”
Just like Moo Deng, Fiona saw her popularity grow online, as did demand for zoo tickets and viewings. In response, the Cincinnati Zoo started “Hanging With Hippos,” an up-close-and-personal tour.
“We equate it to people trying to get Taylor Swift tickets,” Ms. Wingate explained. “They’ll log in on their iPad, their phone and their computer.”
Zoo staff thought Fiona’s popularity would wane as she grew out of her adolescent stage, but seven years later she is still generating lines of people waiting to see her and buy her branded merchandise, with the fame helping generate more than $1 million for the zoo, allowing it to assist in worldwide conservation efforts for hippos.
But while Fiona may be the original hippo It girl, zoo staff said she was happy to share the spotlight. “Fiona loves everyone, she would love to see Moo Deng doing her thing,” Ms. Wingate said. “Pygmy hippos are much more endangered than common or Nile hippos, and I think if this sparks interest in one person to grow up to be a conservationist and that makes a difference for them, that’s incredible.”
So what’s next for Moo Deng? The Khao Kheow Open Zoo has been working to trademark and copyright “Moo Deng the hippo,” according to The Associated Press. The zoo also released a line of clothing featuring the hippo’s likeness, selling out almost immediately, and set up a 24-hour livestream.
Mr. Saracino doesn’t see an end in sight, especially in Thailand. He plans to visit Moo Deng in the coming months. “I don’t think it’s reached its peak yet,” he said of the hippo’s popularity. “She’s ours, we love her.”
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