Current:Home > reviewsWho's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet -DataFinance
Who's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet
View
Date:2025-04-18 12:14:18
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! (7)
Related
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- The son of a South Carolina inmate urges the governor to save his father from execution
- Jerry Seinfeld retracts claim that the extreme left is ruining comedy: 'It's not true'
- Many schools are still closed weeks after Hurricane Helene. Teachers worry about long-term impact
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Horoscopes Today, October 15, 2024
- Off-duty Detroit officer fatally shot after wounding 2 fellow officers, chief says
- Sam Smith Kisses Boyfriend Christian Cowan During New York Date
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Opinion: Tom Brady’s conflict of interest reflects superstar privilege in NFL
Ranking
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Mortgage company will pay over $8M to resolve lending discrimination allegations
- Why Bradley Cooper Won't Be Supporting Girlfriend Gigi Hadid at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
- Video shows rescuer lowered into 14-foot hole in Florida to rescue trapped dog
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Protesters demand Kellogg remove artificial colors from Froot Loops and other cereals
- 'Inflation-free' Thanksgiving: Walmart unveils discount holiday meal options for 2024
- Nebraska high court to decide if residents with felony records can vote
Recommendation
Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
Victoria's Secret Fashion Show: Tyra Banks Returns to Runway Nearly 20 Years After Modeling Retirement
Jill Biden is out campaigning again — but not for her husband anymore. She’s pumping up Harris
How Gigi Hadid Gave a Nod to BFF Taylor Swift During Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
Supporting Children's Education: Mark's Path of Philanthropy
Serena Williams says she had a benign cyst removed from her neck and ‘all is OK’
'Diablo wind' in California could spark fires, lead to power shutdown for 30,000