CHONBURI — The viral trend of “Moo Deng,” a 2-month-old female pygmy hippopotamus (whose name means “Jiggly Piggy” or “bouncy pork” in Thai), showing its adorable charm through video clips and photos on social media, has led to a continuous increase in visitors to Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Si Racha, Chonburi Province, especially during weekends.
Visitor statistics from the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand’s website show that visitor numbers have been steadily rising. From September 5 to September 11, 2024, there were 14,138 visitors, with 11,615 visitors during the weekend of September 7-8 alone. This is compared to around 9,000 visitors in each of the two previous weekends.
However, the influx of tourists coming to see Moo Deng has led to some problems, with some visitors throwing seashells at the little hippo while it’s sleeping because they want to see it run and play. Regarding this issue, Narongwit Chodchoey, Director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Sri Racha, Chonburi Province, has issued a statement urging tourists to maintain proper etiquette when visiting the zoo.
“The most important thing is that we must respect and have good manners when visiting these animals. We shouldn’t shout or throw objects at them. These behaviors are not appropriate for zoo visits, and we must respect the rules of the place,” he said.
Furthermore, the zoo has implemented measures to prevent animal harassment by installing CCTV cameras and assigning staff and animal caretakers during periods of high visitor traffic. If there are any violations against the animals, legal action will be taken to the fullest extent of the law.
Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippopotamus, was born on July 10, 2024. Her mother is Jona, 25 years old, and her father is Tony, 24 years old. She is the younger sister of Moo Tun, another popular hippo of Khao Kheow Open Zoo.
The name “Moo Deng” came from a voting poll organized by Khao Kheow Open Zoo. There were three name options to vote for: Moo Deng, Moo Daeng, and Moo Sap. Out of 20,000 voters, the majority chose the name Moo Deng, which became her official name.
Many people say that both her appearance and behavior truly fit her name “Deng” (which can mean “bounce” in Thai). True to her playful nature as a youngster, she runs around energetically all day. She’s also quite “flighty,” not liking it when her caretakers touch her. Moreover, she’s known for being an expert at nipping and chomping.
Moo Deng has become a star attraction of Khao Kheow Open Zoo. Video clips and photos of “Moo Deng” shared through the “Kha Moo and The Gang” page by Attapol Nuundee, a zookeeper close to the social media-famous hippo family since her parents’ generation, have resulted in cute moments of the hippo family being regularly shared. This has led to Moo Deng being used as a meme and gaining fans across social media.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo quickly responded to the popularity of the little hippo by announcing a collection of shirts and cartoon-printed pants featuring ‘Moo Deng’, stating, “They’re still in production, no need to reserve yet.”
The hippo’s charm has reached beyond Thailand. On the X platform, a clay artist’s post of Moo Deng received over 100,000 likes and 10 million views. On Instagram, Korean singer Ningning of aespa, with over 8 million followers, also posted a picture of Moo Deng, further boosting her fame.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo, established 46 years ago, is known for its open concept with a vast area for over 300 species of animals. It’s a popular holiday destination for Bangkok residents, being less than 2 hours away and ideal for family outings. However, in 2023, it was one of six zoos affected by revenue loss due to COVID-19, contrasting with increasing personnel and animal feed costs.
This led to the Zoological Park Organization lacking sufficient budget for all expenses, resulting in the first ticket price increase in 10 years. Current admission prices are 200 baht for Thai adults and 40 baht for Thai children, while foreign adults pay 350 baht and foreign children 120 baht.
Moo Deng’s online fame is welcomed by Khao Kheow Open Zoo, alleviating concerns that the ticket price increase might reduce visitor numbers. Instead, zoo attendance is now increasing and is expected to continue rising, potentially providing sufficient income to cover all expenses and benefiting the overall zoo business in Thailand.
Besides Moo Deng, Khao Kheow Open Zoo is home to another famous hippo well-known to Thais: Mae Mali, the longest-living hippopotamus in Thailand. Khao Kheow Open Zoo celebrated her 59th birthday on September 8, 2024.
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