Current:Home > FinanceWho's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet -Elite Financial Minds
Who's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet
View
Date:2025-04-16 03:07:44
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! (432)
Related
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith says he’ll retire in July 2024
- 65-year-old woman hospitalized after apparent shark bite at New York City's Rockaway Beach
- The FAA asks the FBI to consider criminal charges against 22 more unruly airline passengers
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Summon the Magic of the Grishaverse with this Ultimate Shadow and Bone Fan Gift Guide
- SafeSport suspends ex-US Olympic snowboarding coach Peter Foley after sexual misconduct probe
- Celebrating Auburn fans can once again heave toilet paper into Toomer’s Oaks
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- How a Gospel album featuring a drag queen topped Christian music charts
Ranking
- Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
- Who is sneaking fentanyl across the southern border? Hint: it's not the migrants
- Bachelor Nation's Nick Viall and Fiancée Natalie Joy Are Expecting First Baby Together
- Craving more aliens after congressional hearing? Here are 3 UFO docuseries on streaming
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Hip-hop and justice: Culture carries the spirit of protest, 50 years and counting
- Get early Labor Day savings by pre-ordering the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 for up to $820 off
- Taylor Swift and SZA lead 2023 MTV Video Music Award nominations
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
Burger King's crispy chicken sandwich was so popular, it's now a wrap
Olivia Newton-John's Family Details Supernatural Encounters With Her After Her Death
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro’s Ex Jen Harley Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby With Boyfriend Joe Ambrosole
'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
Prince Harry's His Royal Highness Title Removed From Royal Family Website
What is ALS? Experts explain symptoms to look out for, causes and treatments
Celebrating Auburn fans can once again heave toilet paper into Toomer’s Oaks