Current:Home > reviewsWho's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet -GrowthInsight
Who's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet
View
Date:2025-04-13 09:25:47
Oh, baby! A little hippo in Thailand has taken the internet by storm, becoming a viral sensation and even inspiring Sephora to post about blushes that will make people "blush like a baby hippo."
Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in eastern Thailand about two hours from Bangkok, has the internet and the world in a chokehold with her chubby, pink cheeks, tummy rolls and adorable expressions.
The two-month-old, whose name means "bouncing pig" in Thai, has millions of fans on social media following her clumsy adventures, including trying to nibble her handler despite not having teeth.
Who is Moo Deng?
Moo Deng was born on June 10, to mother Jona, 25 and father Tony, 24, with two other siblings Pork Stew and Sweet Pork at the zoo in Chonburi, NorthJersey.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, reported. She is the seventh child born to the hippo couple and is also the sibling of Moo Toon, another famous hippo, Pattaya Mail reported. Moo Deng is also the granddaughter of Thailand's oldest hippo, Malee, who recently celebrated her 59th birthday. The median life expectancy of pygmy hippos is 27 years, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
Pygmy hippopotamuses are a small breed of hippopotamus that are native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. They are known to be solitary and nocturnal but can sometimes be found in small family groups. Adults grow up to two and half to three feet high and around five feet in length, weighing between 350-600 pounds. Pygmy hippos are now classified as endangered, the alliance said, with possibly less than 3,000 individuals remaining in their native habitat.
Zoo draws thousands of visitors
Moo Deng's internet-fame has also translated into real life celebrity fame with the zoo drawing thousands of visitors, who visit every day just to get a glimpse of her.
Director of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo Narungwit Chodchoy told Reuters the zoo normally gets around 800 visitors on any given day during the rainy season, "which is a low season." After Moo Deng catapulted to fame, the zoo is now getting 3,000 to 4,000 people on weekdays, and welcomed almost 20,000 visitors over the weekend, Chodchoy said, adding that most of them came just to see Moo Deng.
"Moo Deng fever means we will have organize better so all visitors can see her," Narungwit told the media outlet.
Narungwit has also issued strict orders against those who bother Moo Deng after videos of visitors throwing water and shells on the baby pygmy were shared to social media, according to Pattaya Mail. Staff presence has also been increased during peak hours and surveillance cameras have also been installed.
Moo Deng: 'A lifestyle icon'
Moo Deng has inspired several advertisements including by Sephora Thailand and the NBA's Utah Jazz, with internet users referring to her as a 'lifestyle icon."
Contributing: Reuters, Maria Francis, USA TODAY NETWORK
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
veryGood! (8566)
Related
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- Florida won't light bridges in rainbow colors. So Jacksonville's LGBTQ community did.
- Pat McAfee walks back profane statement he made while trying to praise Caitlin Clark
- Most wanted Thai fugitive arrested on Bali after 17-hour speedboat escape
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Louisiana lawmakers approve surgical castration option for those guilty of sex crimes against kids
- No tiger found in Cincinnati so far after report of sighting; zoo tigers 'safe and sound'
- Anitta Shares Roller Coaster Experience With Birth Control Side Effects
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- Biden executive order restricting asylum processing along U.S. border expected on Tuesday
Ranking
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Packing Solutions for Your Summer Travel: Stay Cute, Comfy & Organized
- For Pregnant People, Heat Waves Bring An Increased Risk of Preterm and Early Term Babies, Study Finds
- NFL's highest-paid wide receivers: Who makes up top 10 after Justin Jefferson extension?
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Packing Solutions for Your Summer Travel: Stay Cute, Comfy & Organized
- Aubrey O'Day likens experience with Sean 'Diddy' Combs to 'childhood trauma'
- Miley Cyrus Asks Where the F--k Was I? While Calling Out 20-Year Wait for Grammy Recognition
Recommendation
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
Julie Bowen Reacts to Being Credited for Saving Sarah Hyland From Abusive Relationship
Minnesota prosecutor was reluctant to drop murder charge against trooper, but ultimately did
Tuesday’s primary in Montana will lock in GOP challenger to 3-term US Sen. Jon Tester
All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts in remote summit region
Tesla, Ford, Jaguar, Volkswagen, among 289,000 vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here
Justin Timberlake pauses concert to help fan during medical emergency, video shows