Famous baby hippo in Thai zoo

A baby hippopotamus is causing great excitement among fans in Thailand.

Moo Deng – a name that roughly translates to “hopping pig” – is a two-month-old female pygmy hippopotamus who is going viral on the internet and causing queues at a zoo near the city of Pattaya.

According to Khao Kheow Open Zoo, visitor numbers have doubled since her birth in July.

However, the zoo director urged visitors to behave when visiting Moo Deng after videos emerged showing visitors mistreating the animal.

“This behavior is not only cruel but also dangerous,” Narongwit Chodchoi said in a statement posted online.

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

Videos on social media show some visitors throwing shellfish at Moo Deng and even splashing her with water to wake her from her sleep.

Mr Narongwit said the zoo had installed video surveillance cameras around the enclosures and threatened to take legal action against those who mistreat the baby hippo.

The best time to visit Moo Deng is when she is awake, he added.

Pygmy hippos are native to West Africa and are classified as “critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Experts estimate that there are fewer than 3,000 specimens left in the wild.

This special hippo, with its tiny build and stocky proportions, has found an enthusiastic following on the Internet.

“I'm obsessed with Moo Deng – I've been thinking about this queen all day,” said one user on X.

Another said: “I don't know what else is happening in the world right now except Moo Deng.”

The Khao Kheow Open Zoo, located about 100 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, has certainly capitalized on the hype surrounding the famous hippopotamus.

Since her birth, 128 of the zoo's last 150 social media posts have been about Moo Deng.

A range of merchandise items – including a hippo-themed shirt and trouser combo – are now available to purchase at the zoo and online.

Other brands are also trying to capitalize. Cosmetics retailer Sephora previously ran an ad for a range of blush products inspired by Moo Deng, allowing customers to “apply their blush like a baby hippo.”

A “Soft Pop Powder Blush” costs 1,590 THB ($47.70; £36.30).

Moo Deng has also caused a stir in the traditional media.

This week, she made her international television debut after a crew from the All-Nippon News Network, a Japanese television station, visited the zoo to film a report on the hippo superstar.

Even the Royal Thai Embassy has warmly welcomed the “hot topic” Moo Deng on its social media channels.

As the message posted on X on Thursday: “She is very energetic and her sweet looks are calming.”