A child pygmy hippo in Thailand has taken the web by storm, capturing the hearts of hundreds of thousands together with her cuteness.

Moo Deng—whose title interprets to “bouncy pork”—was born on June 10 at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi Province to oldsters Jona and Tony. She has two siblings: Moo Tun, which means “stewed pork,” and Moo Wan, which means “sweet pork.”

For Moo Deng’s debut, the zoo shared an Instagram publish, which translated to English, learn: “Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Moo Deng, a female pygmy hippopotamus born on Wednesday, June 10, 2024. My mother is Jonah, 25 years old, and my father is Tony, 24 years old. I’m currently single and 59 days old. ”

The zoo’s Instagram web page is crammed with content material that includes Moo Deng, whereas its TikTok account, @khamoo.andthegang, has over 2.6 million followers as of publication. The zoo’s present store additionally gives merchandise celebrating her, together with a button-down shirt and pants ensemble.

But Why Is Moo Deng’s Keeper Worried About Her Growing Fame?

According to the Thai PBS World information outlet, “Visitor numbers on Saturdays and Sundays are reported to have more than doubled, from 3,000 to 6,000 or 7,000 each day,” at the zoo, with many company flocking to Moo Deng’s enclosure.

Moo Deng lastly debuts new enamel pic.twitter.com/Fgl4Yh0bD5

— yammi (@sighyam) September 9, 2024

Unfortunately, the surge in curiosity has additionally led to incidents of individuals harassing the child hippo, prompting the zoo to difficulty warnings to company. Some guests have allegedly splashed water and thrown shellfish at Moo Deng to wake her up. In response, the zoo has put in CCTV cameras round the hippo’s habitat to observe guests and maintain her secure.

“These behaviors are not only cruel but also dangerous,” the zoo’s director, Narongwit Chodchoi, mentioned in a assertion. “We must protect these animals and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable environment.” He added that the zoo could think about authorized motion in opposition to uncooperative guests.

@khamoo.andthegang

Baby hippo #hippo #ขาหมูแอนด์เดอะแก๊ง

♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – ขาหมู แอนด์เดอะแก๊ง – ขาหมู แอนด์เดอะแก๊ง

The zoo has urged guests to come back when Moo Deng is awake, lately posting on social media: “Little #Bouncing Pig will wake up bouncing in the morning from 8 AM to 9 AM, especially when she gets showered, then go back to sleep before waking up bouncing again at 2 PM. You can come to see me.”

What Is a Pygmy Hippo?

Native to western Africa, pygmy hippos are listed as an endangered species, with stories indicating that solely about 2,000 stay in the wild, primarily in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast, in response to the UK-based Pygmy Hippo Foundation.

I WAS NOT EATING SAND pic.twitter.com/at2qFAqeO9

— hope hopes hoping (@hopes_revenge) September 12, 2024

Unlike the bigger and extra well-known widespread hippopotamus, the pygmy hippo is extra tailored to a terrestrial life-style and spends much less time in water. It is about half the top of a widespread hippo and weighs between 400 to 600 kilos (180 to 270 kg). Pygmy hippos are primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves, ferns, fruits, and roots.