Current:Home > ContactWho's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet -MoneyTrend
Who's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet
View
Date:2025-04-17 05:40:30
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! (2393)
Related
- Michigan lawmaker who was arrested in June loses reelection bid in Republican primary
- Who won at the Grammys? Here's a complete winner list
- Maluma Reveals the Fatherhood Advice He Got From Marc Anthony
- Police: Inert Cold War-era missile found in garage of Washington state home
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- See All the Couples Singing a Duet on the 2024 Grammys Red Carpet
- Mahomes’ father arrested on DWI suspicion in Texas as Chiefs prepare to face 49ers in the Super Bowl
- Japanese embassy says Taylor Swift should comfortably make it in time for the Super Bowl
- Family of explorer who died in the Titan sub implosion seeks $50M-plus in wrongful death lawsuit
- Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick rule at pre-Grammy gala hosted by Clive Davis
Ranking
- Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
- Grim California weather forecast says big cities could face 'life-threatening flooding'
- Authorities release names of three killed when plane crashed into Florida mobile home park
- What's going on at the border? A dramatic standoff between Texas and the White House.
- Hidden Home Gems From Kohl's That Will Give Your Space a Stylish Refresh for Less
- New cancer cases to increase 77% by 2050, WHO estimates
- Bulls' Zach LaVine ruled out for the year with foot injury
- Mark Zuckerberg to families of exploited kids: 'I'm sorry for everything you've been through'
Recommendation
51-year-old Andy Macdonald puts on Tony Hawk-approved Olympic skateboard showing
Prosecutor appeals manslaughter charge against ex-Detroit police officer
1 icon, 6 shoes, $8 million: An auction of Michael Jordan’s championship sneakers sets a record
How 2024 Caribbean Series was influenced by MLB legend Ralph Avila | Nightengale's Notebook
The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
The 2024 Grammy Awards are here; SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Victoria Monét lead the nominations
Policy Experts Say the UN Climate Talks Need Reform, but Change Would be Difficult in the Current Political Landscape
Jack Antonoff & Margaret Qualley Have A Grammy-Nominated Love Story: Look Back At Their Romance