Moo Deng shows off her signature sass in viral videos

You know her, you love her, the internet can't get enough of her.

Moo Deng, the bouncing baby pygmy hippo who took pop culture by storm, has brought notoriety to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in eastern Thailand, even prompting the facility to build and expand roads to accommodate the influx of international visitors.

Moo Deng was born on June 10th to mother Jona and father Tony. He is the seventh child of the hippo couple and sibling to another famous hippo, Moo Toon. The name means “jumping pig” and her charm has proven almost irresistible to internet users and beyond.

An abundance of belly rolls and pink chubby cheeks are obvious reasons to love Moo Deng. But some are wondering: Is there a more scandalous side to this seemingly healthy little baby? Is she hiding something from all of us? What's with all the videos of her biting people? Is she nice to the service staff when she goes out to eat?

In some viral videos, Moo Deng can be seen confronting her zookeeper as he enters her enclosure, which has led to speculation that she may be one of those heroes you don't want to meet.

Will these videos spell a PR crisis for Moo Deng? Here's what we know about her behavior in some of the most viral clips about her.

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Moo Deng: A star entering his villain era?

Some have wondered: Will Moo Deng's penchant for diva behavior cause her to be canceled? Will her scandals overshadow her achievements? Is her star destined to fall instead of shine because she loves engaging with others?

If you know anything about the internet's love for Moo Deng, that's unlikely. In fact, her “cheesiness,” as fans call it, is part of her charm.

Moo Deng's original rise to virality wasn't just about her adorable, chubby looks, but also her bubbly nature. The internet can't get enough of the baby hippo's cuteness or his tendency to look for in a very familiar, toddler-like way to cause a little chaos.

In some of Moo Deng's most popular and widely shared clips, she stomps around, pinches her handler, fidgets and fights for her bath time, and walks around with her mouth wide open to let the world know she's going to do it all again.

All in all, Moo Deng is your typical strong-headed toddler, just a little chubby and slipperier, and people can't get enough.

Why does Moo Deng like to bite so much? Is it because she is stressed?

Why does Moo Deng seem to bite her caretaker so much? Is she just mean or a nibbler? And why does her mother seem to not care?

Some online users have speculated that Moo Deng is caught biting so often because she is treated too frequently or roughly by keepers, and expressed concern about her enclosure and the pressure from all visitors and the attention she receives. PETA has also published comments about her captivity, a move that the Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals criticized while defending Moo Deng's care.

Users pointed out that the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) care guidelines for pygmy hippos advise against much direct contact, citing how dangerous the animals become after about a year.

However, others have also reported visiting the zoo defended the facilityand highlighted that it was the first in Thailand to join the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), an accreditation agency that sets and maintains standards for the care of captive animals.

A look at Moo Deng's 24-hour live stream also shows that she is only treated for short periods each day when her keeper enters the enclosure to feed her mother, defense attorneys pointed out. Because wild monkeys native to the area like to sneak in and eat food intended for the zoo's animals, their keeper remains in the enclosure until the mother has had ample opportunity to finish her meal.

He also used this time to bond with the baby, Atthapon Nundee told the New York Times. “For mental health, I build trust with Moo Deng by engaging in conversations” and physically interacting with her, he told the Times.

His guess as to why Moo Deng made knee biting one of her favorite pastimes? She's probably teething right now, he told the Times. And she just has a personality that's much more “peppy and really spirited” than her siblings.

Between tantrums, arguments over bath time, and grumpy teething, Moo Deng's behavior probably sounds pretty familiar to any parent out there. But their efforts help raise money and awareness for a larger cause – since there are fewer than 3,000 pygmy hippos in the wild, the conservation and breeding operation Khao Kheow Open Zoo and other organizations are playing a role in the effort to conserve them species alive.

Once Moo Deng grows up, she will probably act more mature, like her mother or older siblings. However, her fans can't help but hope that she retains at least a little of that trademark sassy attitude.

Moo Deng shows off her signature sass in viral videos

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