Lovable Pygmy Hippo Moo Deng Is a Viral Sensation! Read About Her Meteoric Rise and Social Media Fandom

No crocodiles or rhinoceroses, we only like hippopotamuses! A petite pygmy hippo by the name of Moo Deng took the internet by storm and her popularity isn’t waning. With over 5,000 daily visitors to her local zoo and endless viral memes being made of her cutest videos, it looks like Moo Deng is here to stay — but at what cost? Learn more about this “blushing” hippo and the danger intense admiration might have to her life.

Meet the  viral hippo named Moo Deng

Charmingly toothless with rosy cheeks and a pert I-see-I-bite mouth allocation, Moo Deng — a 2-month-old pygmy hippopotamus – captured the internet’s heart in a series of viral videos .

Moo Deng resides at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, which has seen more visitors in recent days than ever during Thailand’s rainy season .

The young hippo is generating millions of views on TikTok and folks can’t stop talking about what a “queen” she is on social media.

Fans of Moo Deng even extended virtual invites to pop culture’s hottest events such as Sunday night’s Emmys.

Moo Deng has become such a cultural icon, the Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo posted a series of images informing the public about the pygmy hippo species.

Brands making the most of Moo Deng’s popularity

Several Thai brands capitalized on the popularity of the viral hippo.

Beauty retailer Sephora created an Instagram ad to promote products that will help consumers achieve Moo Deng’s signature rosy cheeks.

A Bangkok-based bakery took to serving carefully crafted Moo Deng look-alike cakes. The business was quickly overwhelmed by orders .

The danger of Moo Deng’s popularity

Not only is Moo Deng garnering millions of views online, her popularity in-person has increased to potentially hazardous levels.

Narongwit Chodchoi, director at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, warned that this sudden fandom is not only cruel but also dangerous . “We must protect these animals and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable environment,” he was quoted as saying by local media.

Due to the influx of visitors interested in viewing Moo Deng’s pen, her zoo has limited visits to five minutes on only Saturdays and Sundays to control the ever-growing crowd.

What kind of hippo is Moo Deng?

Moo Deng is a pygmy hippo which is considered an endangered species with possibly less than 3,000 individuals remaining in their native habitat.

Less aquatic than common hippopotamuses, pygmy hippos are found in the interior forests in parts of West Africa and are often characters in the folklore local to their natural habitat .

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