CHONBURI — A district ecclesiastical chief in Chonburi Province has ordered ‘Phra Ajarn Chin’ to leave his temple within 7 days after blessing figurines of ‘Moo Deng,’ the world-famous pygmy hippopotamus, in a wealth-beckoning pose, which drew widespread criticism.
Although Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi who will turn 4 months old on November 10, has become a star bringing fame and revenue to the zoo and licensed businesses, when she became linked to Thai amulet culture, it sparked widespread criticism and opposition, resulting in the monk who created these amulets being asked to leave his temple.
The incident became news when a Facebook page ‘Srithanyaland: Land of Smiles‘ posted photos of monks blessing small Moo Deng figurines on October 31 at Anant Burapharam Buddhist Monastery in Huai Yai Sub-district, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.
The post showed the hippo in a wealth-beckoning pose, drawing criticism from netizens with comments like ‘Have we really come to this point?’ and ‘This business has gone too far.’
The Zoo Director Attaporn Sriheran warned that people shouldn’t be superstitious about Moo Deng as she is just a wild animal. He said while he doesn’t object to Moo Deng merchandise like clothes, bags, or shoes, using her image for religious or supernatural beliefs is inappropriate.
On November 2, the Bang Lamung District ecclesiastical chief ordered Phra Samuh Thanawut (Ajarn Chin) to leave the district’s ecclesiastical jurisdiction within 7 days.
In an interview with Khaosod, Ajarn Chin said he accepted the order without resistance and wanted to apologize to Buddhists and society, acknowledging his actions were ‘inappropriate’ and apologizing for affecting people’s faith.
He accepted teachings from senior monks and reminded Buddhists that amulets are meaningless if one commits sins, emphasizing that following Buddhist precepts and practices is most important.
His disciple, Songyot Soncha, expressed regret about the order and clarified that disciples had created the amulets and invited the monk to bless them, insisting the blessing didn’t occur within temple grounds.”
The story highlights the tension between traditional Buddhist values and commercial exploitation of popular culture in Thailand, particularly regarding the case of Moo Deng, a baby hippo that has become a national sensation.
The controversy over the Moo Deng amulets comes amid broader debates in Thai society about Buddhism, where some people have fallen for unusual practices and beliefs, while others oppose the exploitation of superstition for profit—practices that deviate from Buddha’s core teachings of mindfulness and wisdom in daily life.
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