BANGKOK — “Moo Deng,” a pygmy hippopotamus at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, has become a global internet sensation. This phenomenon highlights the power of social media marketing in creating buzz and engagement.
DXT360, a platform that collects news information from social media, online media, broadcast media, and print media, analyzed data that emphasized the power of social media and how it created a wave of popularity for Moo Deng, as follows:
Social Media Impact
Data analysis period: July 28 – September 18, 2024
Total engagements: 38,440,092
Mentions: 8,678
Top platforms:
Facebook: 5,263 mentions
TikTok: 34,674,750 engagements
@khamoo.andthegang รักกันๆ #ขาหมูแอนด์เดอะแก๊ง #hippo ♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – ขาหมู แอนด์เดอะแก๊ง
Viral Timeline
Late July 2024: First TikTok clip posted by “Khamoo and the Gang”
Hashtag #MooDengwillbouncewhen introduced, causing rapid viral spread
Hashtag became top trending on X (Twitter) and TikTok
The trend of bouncing does not stop only within the country. Many foreign media outlets are interested, including those from Japan, Russia, and the United States, causing people all over the world to become interested in Moo Deng the “pygmy hippopotamus.”
As a result, many countries have started to showcase their own cute animals to compete with the bouncy pig, such as “Nemunemu,” a pygmy hippo from Japan, leading to the creation of many funny and cute video clips.
The timeline of “Moo Deng’s” popularity, a pygmy hippo from Khao Kheow Open Zoo, has an interesting beginning on the TikTok platform via an account named “Khamoo and the Gang.”
The first clip of Moo Deng was released in late July 2024. It received a lot of attention, although the engagement value was relatively stable at first. A major turning point occurred when the hashtag #MooDengwillbouncewhen was used, which caused it to go viral.
Benefits for Khao Kheow Open Zoo
- Increased visitor numbers
- Greater awareness of animal conservation
- Adapted communication strategy
- Launched 24/7 online viewing platform: www.zoodio.live
Business Opportunities
- Zoo Accommodation: Overnight stays to see Moo Deng early
- Annual Pass: Unlimited entry for 4 people over 1 year
- Merchandise: T-shirts and pants with Moo Deng designs
Brand Engagement
Many brands leveraged the Moo Deng trend for real-time content creation, boosting their own awareness and demonstrating social relevance.
Prachachat Business also reported that recently, the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand was contacted by Thailand Post Company Limited, requesting to create a set of stamps featuring Moo Deng.
A source from Thailand Post Company revealed that after discussions with the Zoological Park Organization late last week, normally, the production of stamps by Thailand Post is planned well in advance and it’s difficult to change the printing format.
The company has submitted a proposal and copyright fees for the Zoological Park Organization to consider. The quantity of Moo Deng stamps to be produced will be in the range of 10,000 sets to meet current popularity.
If the Zoological Park Organization agrees to the proposal, printing can begin immediately, as the design for the bouncing pig stamps is already complete.
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