Current:Home > FinanceWho's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet -MoneyStream
Who's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet
View
Date:2025-04-15 15:46:31
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! (1358)
Related
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- North Korea's Kim Jong Un orders military to thoroughly annihilate U.S. if provoked, state media say
- Tens of thousands flee central Gaza as Israel's offensive expands
- Doing the Dry January challenge? This sober life coach has tips for how to succeed.
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- After a grueling 2023, here are four predictions for media in 2024
- Sophia Bush Says 2023 “Humbled” and “Broke” Her Amid New Personal Chapter
- 'AGT: Fantasy League' premiere: Simon Cowell feels 'dumped' after Mel B steals skating duo
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Taylor Swift duplicates Travis Kelce's jacket for New Year's Eve Chiefs vs. Bengals game
Ranking
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Denmark's Queen Margrethe II to abdicate after 52 years on the throne
- 'AGT: Fantasy League' premiere: Simon Cowell feels 'dumped' after Mel B steals skating duo
- Michigan vs. Alabama Rose Bowl highlights, score: Wolverines down Alabama in OT thriller
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- A war travelogue: Two Florida photographers recount harrowing trip to document the Ukraine war
- Brazil’s economy improves during President Lula’s first year back, but a political divide remains
- NOAA detects largest solar flare since 2017: What are they and what threats do they pose?
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
How 1000-lb Sisters' Amy Slaton Addressed Rage With Ex Michael Halterman
Colorado Springs mother accused of killing 2 of her children arrested in United Kingdom
North Korea to launch 3 more spy satellites, Kim Jong Un says
The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
Ian Ziering details 'unsettling confrontation' with bikers on New Year's Eve that led to attack
Rose Bowl expert predictions as Alabama and Michigan meet in College Football Playoff
Save Up to 50% on Hoka Sneakers and Step up Your Fitness Game for 2024