Current:Home > MarketsIndexbit-Who's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet -AssetScope
Indexbit-Who's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet
SafeX Pro Exchange View
Date:2025-04-07 12:42:55
Oh,Indexbit 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! (7146)
Related
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Coach’s Halloween 2024 Drop Is Here—Shop Eerie-sistible Bags and Accessories We’re Dying To Get Our Hands
- Whoopi Goldberg asks for 'a little grace' for Janet Jackson after Kamala Harris comments
- In effort to refute porn-site message report, Mark Robinson campaign hires a law firm
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Dancing With the Stars: Find Out Who Went Home in Double Elimination
- Arizona Democratic campaign office damaged by gunfire
- JoJo Siwa's glittery jockstrap and chest plate outfit prompts mixed reactions
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- Gun violence leaves 3 towns in the South reeling
Ranking
- North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
- Michael Strahan Wants to Replace “Grandpa” Title With This Unique Name
- Whoopi Goldberg asks for 'a little grace' for Janet Jackson after Kamala Harris comments
- California judge charged in wife’s death is arrested on suspicion of drinking alcohol while on bail
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Department of Justice sues Visa, saying the card issuer monopolizes debit card markets
- New Hampshire woman to plead guilty in the death of her 5-year-old son
- Ex-NYC COVID adviser is fired after video reveals he attended parties during pandemic
Recommendation
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
Did You Know Bath & Body Works Has a Laundry Line? Make Your Clothes Smell Like Your Fave Scent for $20
Ex-NYC COVID adviser is fired after video reveals he attended parties during pandemic
Weeks after a school shooting, students return for classes at Apalachee High School
Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
Travis Barker Reacts to Leaked Photo of His and Kourtney Kardashian's Baby Rocky
See Selena Gomez Return to Her Magical Roots in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’s Spellbinding Trailer
Marley Brothers upholds father’s legacy with first tour in 2 decades