The hippopotamus is not native to Thailand, yet videos of a baby pygmy hippo at a Thai zoo have taken social media by storm. Netizens are captivated by its heartwarming antics, which have garnered tens of millions of views, likes, and shares.

The two-month-old pygmy hippo, named Moo Deng - literally meaning “bouncy pork” and the name of a popular meatball in Thailand - has drawn tourists to the Khao Kheow Zoo, about an hour’s drive from Bangkok.

Thanks to hundreds of videos and memes, her fame has spread far beyond the borders of the capital and the Kingdom. Even professional sports teams in the United States and Europe have shared Moo Deng memes on social media, including the NFL’s Washington Commanders, the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, and German soccer club FC Bayern.

“Chances are, if you’ve been on the internet these past few weeks, you’ve come across an adorable little ball of energy known as Moo Deng, a two-month-old pygmy hippo who recently arrived at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand,” CBS News wrote on its website.

“Pictures and videos of Moo Deng, whose most famous clips show her yawning or playfully biting the knees of her handlers, have amassed millions of views across Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok,” CBS added.

However, all this attention has presented a few challenges for the zoo. While the surge in visitor numbers is good for business, those coming to see Moo Deng don’t always follow the rules. Some have thrown food at her that could be toxic to a hippo, and many disturb her and her mother while trying to take selfies, photos, and videos.

As a result, the zoo has had to limit viewing time to five minutes per person and only through a glass window. To avoid disappointing Moo Deng’s fans, the zoo announced plans to launch a 24-hour live feed, allowing anyone to watch the baby hippo whenever they want.

The pygmy hippopotamus is threatened by poaching and habitat loss, with only 2,000 to 3,000 remaining in the wild. Khao Kheow Zoo runs breeding programs for hippos and other endangered species in hopes of saving them.

Photo courtesy of https://www.cbsnews.com/