Current:Home > FinanceWho's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet -WealthGrow Network
Who's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet
View
Date:2025-04-17 09:22:11
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 [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
veryGood! (63)
Related
- Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
- Mama June and Her Daughters Get Emotional During Family Therapy Session in Family Crisis Trailer
- Vatican says new leads worth pursuing in 1983 disappearance of 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi
- China accuses Biden of open political provocation for equating President Xi Jinping to dictators
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Estonia becomes first ex-Soviet country to legalize same-sex marriage
- Emily Ratajkowski Shares Insight on Horrifying Year After Sebastian Bear-McClard Breakup
- Time-lapse images show bus-sized asteroid zoom very close to Earth at over 2,000 mph
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- For The 1st Time In Recorded History, Smoke From Wildfires Reaches The North Pole
Ranking
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- Why Sarah Shahi Is Subtly Shading Sex/Life Season 2
- Vatican says new leads worth pursuing in 1983 disappearance of 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi
- Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get This $360 Tote Bag for Just $79
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- With Extreme Fires Burning, Forest Service Stops 'Good Fires' Too
- Get $104 Worth of MAC Cosmetics Products for Just $49 To Create an Effortlessly Glamorous Look
- Divers Are Investigating The Source Of Oil Spill Off The Coast Of Louisiana
Recommendation
Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
Russia tries to show Prigozhin’s Wagner “rebellion” over with Shoigu back in command of Ukraine war
This Is The Devastation The Deadly Flooding Wrought In Tennessee
Gina Rodriguez Reveals Name of Her and Joe Locicero's Baby Boy
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
Ahead Of Climate Talks, China Vows To Stop Building Coal Power Plants Abroad
Pregnant Jessie J Claps Back at Haters Calling Her Naked Photo “Inappropriate”
Cutting climate programs may be harder than other things as Biden trims his bill