Moo Deng: Viral Pygmy baby hippo social sensation that even has its own meme

MOO Deng is a baby hippo who shot to viral fame after zookeepers shared photos of her.

Fans on social media quickly fell in love with the adorable animal, who always seems to be in a constant state of chaos.

What is Moo Deng?

Moo Deng, a tiny pygmy hippo, has quickly become a viral sensation in her first two months of life.

Born at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Si Racha, her rise to fame began when zookeeper Atthapon Nundee started sharing her adorable antics online.

Moo Deng is the seventh offspring of 25-year-old Jona and 24-year-old Tony.

Fans can’t get enough of her—artists have immortalised her in cartoons, cakes, and even latte art.

Social media platforms, including the official account on X (formerly Twitter), have featured her, while teams including Germany’s FC Bayern, the Phoenix Suns, and the Washington Commanders have made memes with her, placing her in playful scenarios.

Why has the baby hippo Moo Deng gone viral?

Moo Deng has gone viral thanks to her irresistible charm and quirky personality.

This little hippo is a bundle of contradictions—one moment she’s screaming or fleeing from bath time, the next she’s calmly awaiting a petting or mimicking chewing motions despite not being old enough for solid food.

Her cute, slippery appearance only adds to her appeal, captivating viewers around the world.

Initially, zookeepers shared just a few photos of her, but the demand for more funny and adorable content has skyrocketed.

Even though she’s still just a baby, Moo Deng’s presence is enchanting a global audience.

The zoo is now working hard to meet the public’s appetite for updates, regularly posting photos and videos while also managing crowds of visitors and protecting her from overenthusiastic fans.

Fans often relate Moo Deng’s antics to their own experiences, creating memes that compare her moments to humorous events in their own lives.

For instance, if Moo Deng appears angry after a zookeeper splashes water on her, they’ll create content reflecting a similar situation they’ve been in.

Her constant activity also contributed to her viral fame — she’s rarely ever still, always bouncing around, slipping, biting the zookeepers’ knees, and running about.

What does Moo Deng mean?

Moo Deng is a popular Thai dish that translates to “bouncy pork”.

It refers to a type of pork meatball or minced pork that has a distinctive springy, texture due to its preparation process.

The meat, Moo Deng, is popular in Thai cuisine, including soups, stir-fries, and noodle dishes.

Fans chose the name for the hippopotamus due to her round shape, after zookeepers held a social media poll to name the miniature mammal.

The zoo has hippos with names inspired by different variations of the word “pork” in Thai.

Her siblings are named Moo Waan (sweet pork) and Moo Toon (stewed pork) and a hippo called Kha Moo (stewed pork leg), also lives at the 2,000-acre open zoo which hosts over 8.000 animals as of September 2024.