BANGKOK, Thailand — Chances are if you've been on the internet these past few weeks, you've come in contact with 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.
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.
According to the zoo, attendance has doubled since Moo-Deng's birth in July. Unfortunately, this has also led to some unwanted attention. Some online videos showing visitors mistreating Moo-Deng — mainly trying to wake her when she's sleeping — prompted the zoo's director to issue an online statement.
"These behaviors are not only cruel but also dangerous," Narongwit Chodchoi said. "We must protect these animals and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable environment."
Less than 3,000 pygmy hippos are believed to be left in the wild, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The animals are native to West Africa.
Last year, a pygmy hippo named Huckleberry was born at the Greensboro Science Center. She caused quite the stir when he made his on-exhibit debut in August 2023.
Did you know that WFMY News 2 has a live feed of the hippo enclosure at the Greensboro Science Center? You can watch Huckleberry and the rest of the enclosure's residents here.
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