Current:Home > reviewsWho's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet -Blueprint Money Mastery
Who's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet
View
Date:2025-04-18 14:29:56
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! (58588)
Related
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Former St. Louis principal sentenced after hiring friend to kill pregnant teacher girlfriend
- Take 60% Off Lilly Pulitzer, 70% Off West Elm, 76% Off BaubleBar, 45% Off Ulta & More Deals
- Christina Applegate’s 13-Year-Old Daughter Details Her Own Health Struggles Amid Mom’s MS Battle
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- NYC’s transit budget is short $16 billion. Here are the proposed cuts, as the governor seeks funds
- Biden and Trump go head to head: How to watch the first general election presidential debate
- The Supreme Court seems poised to allow emergency abortions in Idaho, a Bloomberg News report says
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Djimon Hounsou and Alex Wolff embrace silence in A Quiet Place: Day One
Ranking
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Man who police say urged ‘Zionists’ to get off NYC subway train faces criminal charge
- ‘No egos,’ increased transparency and golden retrievers. How USA Gymnastics came back from the brink
- Can the 2024 Kia EV9 electric SUV replace a gas-powered family hauler?
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- 2024 NBA draft: Top prospects, rankings, best available players
- Man arrested in Colorado triple-shooting after crash and intensive search
- Blac Chyna’s Kids Cairo and Dream Look All Grown Up During Rare Public Appearance
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Keeping kids safe online is a challenge: Here's how to block porn on X
Planning on traveling for the Fourth of July holiday? Here’s how to avoid the crush
Batteries and Rooftop Solar Can Lead to Huge Savings for the Entire Grid. A New Study Shows How—and How Much
Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
Trump and Biden's first presidential debate of 2024 is tomorrow. Here's what to know.
Billy Ray Cyrus, Firerose accuse each other of abuse amid contentious divorce
NASA taps Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring International Space Station out of orbit in a few more years