The little pygmy hippo in Thailand has conquered the internet: Mu Deng, the «jumping piglet»
15 september 2024 в 12:13
In Thailand, a small pygmy hippopotamus has conquered the internet, winning the hearts of millions with its cuteness.
Mu Deng, whose name translates to «jumping pork», was born on June 10 at the Khao Kheow Zoo in Chonburi province to parents John and Tony. She has two brothers: Mu Tun, meaning «braised pork», and Mu Wan, meaning «sweet pork».
For her debut, the zoo posted on Instagram, introducing her as follows: «Allow me to officially introduce myself. My name is Mu Deng, a female pygmy hippopotamus born on Wednesday, June 10, 2024. My mom is John, 25 years old, and my dad is Tony, 24 years old. I am currently alone and 59 days old. 🤣🤣»
The zoo’s Instagram page is filled with content featuring Mu Deng, and its TikTok account, @khamoo.andthegang, has over 2.6 million followers at the time of publication. The zoo’s gift shop also offers merchandise dedicated to her, including button-up shirts and pants.
According to the news portal Thai PBS World, «The number of visitors on Saturdays and Sundays, reportedly, has more than doubled, from 3000 to 6000 or 7000 per day», at the zoo, with many guests rushing to Mu Deng’s enclosure.
Unfortunately, the increased interest has also led to cases of harassment towards the little hippopotamus, prompting the zoo to issue warnings to visitors. Some visitors allegedly splashed Mu Deng with water and threw seafood to wake her up. In response, the zoo installed surveillance cameras around the hippopotamus' habitat to monitor visitors and ensure her safety.
«These behaviors are not only cruel, but also dangerous», - said zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi in a statement. «We must protect these animals and provide them with a safe and comfortable environment». He added that the zoo may consider legal action against unruly visitors.
The zoo urges visitors to come when Mu Deng is active, recently posting on social media: «Little #JumpingPig will wake up and jump in the morning from 8 am to 9 am, especially when she is being watered, and then go back to sleep before waking up again and starting to jump at 2 pm. You can come see me».
Originally from West Africa, pygmy hippos are listed as endangered species, with reports indicating that there are only about 2000 left in the wild, mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast, according to the British Pygmy Hippo Foundation.
Unlike the larger and more well-known common hippopotamus, the pygmy hippopotamus is more adapted to a terrestrial lifestyle and spends less time in the water. It is roughly half the size of a common hippopotamus, weighing between 400 and 600 pounds (180 to 270 kg). Pygmy hippos are mainly herbivorous, feeding on leaves, ferns, fruits, and roots
Mu Deng, whose name translates to «jumping pork», was born on June 10 at the Khao Kheow Zoo in Chonburi province to parents John and Tony. She has two brothers: Mu Tun, meaning «braised pork», and Mu Wan, meaning «sweet pork».
For her debut, the zoo posted on Instagram, introducing her as follows: «Allow me to officially introduce myself. My name is Mu Deng, a female pygmy hippopotamus born on Wednesday, June 10, 2024. My mom is John, 25 years old, and my dad is Tony, 24 years old. I am currently alone and 59 days old. 🤣🤣»
The zoo’s Instagram page is filled with content featuring Mu Deng, and its TikTok account, @khamoo.andthegang, has over 2.6 million followers at the time of publication. The zoo’s gift shop also offers merchandise dedicated to her, including button-up shirts and pants.
According to the news portal Thai PBS World, «The number of visitors on Saturdays and Sundays, reportedly, has more than doubled, from 3000 to 6000 or 7000 per day», at the zoo, with many guests rushing to Mu Deng’s enclosure.
Unfortunately, the increased interest has also led to cases of harassment towards the little hippopotamus, prompting the zoo to issue warnings to visitors. Some visitors allegedly splashed Mu Deng with water and threw seafood to wake her up. In response, the zoo installed surveillance cameras around the hippopotamus' habitat to monitor visitors and ensure her safety.
«These behaviors are not only cruel, but also dangerous», - said zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi in a statement. «We must protect these animals and provide them with a safe and comfortable environment». He added that the zoo may consider legal action against unruly visitors.
The zoo urges visitors to come when Mu Deng is active, recently posting on social media: «Little #JumpingPig will wake up and jump in the morning from 8 am to 9 am, especially when she is being watered, and then go back to sleep before waking up again and starting to jump at 2 pm. You can come see me».
Originally from West Africa, pygmy hippos are listed as endangered species, with reports indicating that there are only about 2000 left in the wild, mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast, according to the British Pygmy Hippo Foundation.
Unlike the larger and more well-known common hippopotamus, the pygmy hippopotamus is more adapted to a terrestrial lifestyle and spends less time in the water. It is roughly half the size of a common hippopotamus, weighing between 400 and 600 pounds (180 to 270 kg). Pygmy hippos are mainly herbivorous, feeding on leaves, ferns, fruits, and roots
© Artemenko Olga
