Precious baby hippo doubles the number of zoo visitors and triggers safety warnings

Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo, has conquered the internet with his cuteness – but his fame comes at a price.

The two-month-old chubby hippo has helped double visitor numbers at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand's Chonburi province, according to the BBC. Unfortunately, the rapidly growing interest has also led to an increase in harassment of the baby animal, prompting the zoo to issue warnings to guests.

According to Thai news channel PBS World, visitor numbers at the zoo have more than doubled on Saturdays and Sundays, from 3,000 to 6,000 or 7,000 daily, with many guests heading to Moo Deng's enclosure.

Some visitors reportedly splashed water and threw shellfish at Moo Deng to wake her up. The zoo has installed surveillance cameras in the hippo's habitat to monitor visitors and protect the baby hippo.

“This behavior is not only cruel but also dangerous,” zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi said in a statement carried by the BBC. “We must protect these animals and ensure they have a safe and comfortable environment.”

The pygmy hippopotamus is threatened with extinction; there are fewer than 3,000 specimens left in the wild.

There's no denying how much the public loves Moo Deng, whose name means “hopping pig,” according to the BBC. The zoo's Instagram page is full of content about the hippo. The park's gift shop also offers items that pay tribute to her, including a button-up shirt and pants.

When Moo Deng was born, the zoo posted translated into English: “Let me officially introduce myself. My name is Moo Deng, a female pygmy hippopotamus, born on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. My mother is Jonah, 25 years old, and my father is Tony, 24 years old. I am currently single and 59 days old. 🤣🤣”

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Thai PBS World reports that keepers give Moo Deng a manageable schedule. She plays with keepers from 8 to 9 a.m. while her enclosure is cleaned. She takes a nap right after playing. Her afternoon observation session lasts for an hour at 2 p.m., after which she takes another nap.

Fans called Moo Deng “a lifestyle icon” and “the most beautiful girl in the world” online.

The zoo's social media following has grown since Moo Deng's debut. The zoo's TikTok, khamoo.andthegang, has over 2.5 million followers at the time of publication. The account shows Moo Deng eating, showing her tiny teeth that have just come through, and being hosed down.

If it's not all over your social media feed, it's only a matter of time.