Baby Pygmy Hippo Moo Deng Doubles a Thailand Zoo's Visitors and Prompts Safety Warnings

Mar. 15, 2025

According to theThai PBS Worldnews outlet, “Visitor numbers on Saturdays and Sundays are reported to have more than doubled, from 3,000 to 6,000 or 7,000 each day,” at the zoo, with many guests heading to Moo Deng’s enclosure.

“These behaviours are not only cruel but also dangerous,” the zoo’s director, Narongwit Chodchoi, said in a statement shared via BBC. “We must protect these animals and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable environment.”

The pygmy hippopotamus is endangered, with less than 3,000 in the wild.

Moo Deng the pygmy hippo.Chaiwat Subprasom/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Chaiwat Subprasom/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

There’s no denying how much the public loves Moo Deng, whose name translates to “bouncy pig,” according to the BBC. The zoo’sInstagram pageis full of content about the hippo. The park’s gift shop also offers items paying homage to her, includinga button-down shirt and pants ensemble.

When Moo Deng was born,the zoo posted, translated to English: “Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Moo Deng, a female pygmy hippopotamus born on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. My mother is Jonah, 25 years old, and my father is Tony, 24 years old. I’m currently single and 59 days old. 🤣🤣"Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Moo Deng, left, the pygmy hippo.Chaiwat Subprasom/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Thai PBS World reports that zookeepers keep Moo Deng on a manageable schedule. She plays with zookeepers from 8-9 a.m. while her pen is cleaned. She then naps right after playtime is over. Her afternoon viewing session lasts an hour at 2 p.m., after which she takes another nap.

Fans online have called Moo Deng"a lifestyle icon"and"the most beautiful girl in the world.”

Pygmy hippos at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo.Chaiwat Subprasom/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

If she’s not all over your social media feed, it’s only a matter of time.

source: people.com