Current:Home > StocksWho's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet-InfoLens
Who's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet
View Date:2024-12-23 16:22:19
Oh, baby! A little hippo in Thailand has taken the internet by storm, becoming a viral sensation and even inspiring Sephora to post about blushes that will make people "blush like a baby hippo."
Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in eastern Thailand about two hours from Bangkok, has the internet and the world in a chokehold with her chubby, pink cheeks, tummy rolls and adorable expressions.
The two-month-old, whose name means "bouncing pig" in Thai, has millions of fans on social media following her clumsy adventures, including trying to nibble her handler despite not having teeth.
Who is Moo Deng?
Moo Deng was born on June 10, to mother Jona, 25 and father Tony, 24, with two other siblings Pork Stew and Sweet Pork at the zoo in Chonburi, NorthJersey.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, reported. She is the seventh child born to the hippo couple and is also the sibling of Moo Toon, another famous hippo, Pattaya Mail reported. Moo Deng is also the granddaughter of Thailand's oldest hippo, Malee, who recently celebrated her 59th birthday. The median life expectancy of pygmy hippos is 27 years, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
Pygmy hippopotamuses are a small breed of hippopotamus that are native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. They are known to be solitary and nocturnal but can sometimes be found in small family groups. Adults grow up to two and half to three feet high and around five feet in length, weighing between 350-600 pounds. Pygmy hippos are now classified as endangered, the alliance said, with possibly less than 3,000 individuals remaining in their native habitat.
Zoo draws thousands of visitors
Moo Deng's internet-fame has also translated into real life celebrity fame with the zoo drawing thousands of visitors, who visit every day just to get a glimpse of her.
Director of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo Narungwit Chodchoy told Reuters the zoo normally gets around 800 visitors on any given day during the rainy season, "which is a low season." After Moo Deng catapulted to fame, the zoo is now getting 3,000 to 4,000 people on weekdays, and welcomed almost 20,000 visitors over the weekend, Chodchoy said, adding that most of them came just to see Moo Deng.
"Moo Deng fever means we will have organize better so all visitors can see her," Narungwit told the media outlet.
Narungwit has also issued strict orders against those who bother Moo Deng after videos of visitors throwing water and shells on the baby pygmy were shared to social media, according to Pattaya Mail. Staff presence has also been increased during peak hours and surveillance cameras have also been installed.
Moo Deng: 'A lifestyle icon'
Moo Deng has inspired several advertisements including by Sephora Thailand and the NBA's Utah Jazz, with internet users referring to her as a 'lifestyle icon."
Contributing: Reuters, Maria Francis, USA TODAY NETWORK
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn’s SKIMS Holiday Pajamas Are Selling Out Fast—Here’s What’s Still Available
- Miranda Lambert Responds to Fan's Shoot Tequila, Not Selfies T-Shirt at Concert
- Selena Gomez Celebrates 31st Birthday With Paris Hilton, Christina Aguilera and Other Friends
- Lindsay Lohan’s Brother Dakota Gushes Over Her “Perfect” Baby Boy
- Pistons' Tim Hardaway Jr. leaves in wheelchair after banging head on court
- Jersey Shore’s Snooki Gets Candid on Her Weight Struggles in Message to Body Shamers
- Ariana Grande Shared How Wicked Filming Healed Her Ahead of Ethan Slater Romance
- We Solemnly Swear You'll Want to See Daniel Radcliffe's Transformation Over the Years
- TikToker Campbell “Pookie” Puckett Gives Birth, Welcomes First Baby With Jett Puckett
- Camila Cabello’s NSFW Vacation Photos Will Have You Saying My Oh My
Ranking
- Everard Burke Introduce
- Get a $20 Deal on $98 Worth of Skincare From Peter Thomas Roth, Sunday Riley, Benefit, Elemis, and More
- James Middleton's Comments About His Relationship With Sister Kate Middleton Are Royally Relatable
- Married To Medicine Star Quad Webb's 3-Year-Old Great Niece Drowns In Her Pool
- North Carolina offers schools $1 million to help take students on field trips
- Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Welcome to Wrexham Scores Season 2 Premiere Date
- Jamie Foxx Addresses Rumors About His Health in First Video Message Since Hospitalization
- Tom Brady Is Racing Into a New Career After NFL Retirement
Recommendation
-
Beyoncé course coming to Yale University to examine her legacy
-
Vanderpump Rules' James Kennedy Adorably Reunites With Dog He Shared With Ex Raquel Leviss
-
Megan Fox Caught in Middle of Scuffle After Man Attempts to Punch Machine Gun Kelly
-
Golden Bachelor’s Gerry Turner Shares What His Late Wife Would Think of the Show
-
Lee Zeldin, Trump’s EPA Pick, Brings a Moderate Face to a Radical Game Plan
-
Separate boat crashes in Cape Cod and the Ozarks leave 1 dead, 13 injured: Police
-
Don't Miss Black Friday-Level Roku Deals on Smart TVs and Streaming Sticks
-
Why Lady Gaga Asked Joker Crew to Call Her This Fake Name on Set