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Viral sensation Moo Deng 'kind of mean' after nibbling at workers

Moo Deng resists fame.

The viral pygmy hippo has received millions of views online from adoring fans who can't get over her cuteness – but in real life she was a naughty girl.

A video filmed in month-old Moo Deng's enclosure at Thailand's Chonburi Zoo in late September showed the feisty female approaching her handler as he tried to hose her down.

Moo Deng was caught on video biting a janitor. TikTok/khamoo.andthegang

Despite being tiny, the dense but cute beast managed to nudge the grown man – while clinging to his leg and refusing to let go.

A video of the incident was uploaded to a widely followed Moo Deng fan page – where it quickly received more than 6 million views.

In a comment on the widely shared video, one person accused the animal of being “kind of mean,” according to the Daily Mail.

“Little girl always chooses violence,” another user commented.

“She’s so sassy,” wrote another.

Some online users reacted with shock when Baby Moo Deng bit people in her enclosure. AFP via Getty Images

Moo Deng has become something of a pop culture phenomenon — her fame was even featured in a recent Saturday Night Live Weekend Update segment.

Humor aside, the zoo's team has expressed concern about how fame has led to bad behavior from visitors.

Some fans threw things at the hippo to wake it up for the perfect picture, while others splashed it with water.

According to Moo Deng's Zoo, the only bad behavior to worry about is the behavior of people visiting the hippopotamus. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

“These behaviors are not only cruel but also dangerous,” said zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi.

“We need to protect these animals and ensure they have a safe and comfortable environment.”

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