Every so usually an uncommon and lovely animal captures the hearts of web customers and turns into a viral on-line star. Remember April the giraffe, who delivered her child on a stay webcam again in 2017? (RIP, candy mama — April handed in 2021.) Now it is Moo Deng’s flip to beguile the world. Moo Deng, a child pygmy hippopotamus, lives at a zoo in Thailand however has a stay stream the place folks worldwide can watch her every time they need.
Here’s the whole lot it is advisable find out about this chubby cutie — and take a look at all our favourite Moo Deng memes too.
Baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng nips its keeper’s knee.
Who is Moo Deng, and the way did she go viral?
Moo Deng is a feminine pygmy hippo born in July on the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri, Thailand. Moo Deng is the seventh child born on the zoo to her mom, Jona, who’s 25 years previous, and her father, Tony, who’s 24, the Independent stories. Pygmy hippos can stay to be 50 however are an endangered species, with solely 2,000 to 2,500 adults in existence.
The Times stories that whereas zookeeper Atthapon Nundee started sharing Moo Deng on social media immediately, the connected video now has greater than 2.6 million views. The zoo held a Facebook ballot to call her.
Splish-splash, Moo Deng’s getting a shower.
What does ‘Moo Deng’ imply?
Moo Deng’s recognition actually took off when content material creator Yammi Saracino translated the naming ballot into English and shared it on social media.
Moo Deng, which The New York Times says interprets to “bouncy pork,” simply beat out Moo Sap (“minced pork”) and Moo Daeng (“crimson pork”). The Independent says Moo Deng is a type of meatball, which is equally nice as a reputation for this little meatball.
Why do folks love Moo Deng a lot?
Have you seen her? The roly-poly little viral star is simply enjoyable to take a look at. She’s mischievous too; she’s teething so she likes to nip at her keeper. She’s additionally nonetheless a child, which results in enjoyable welcome-to-the-world movies, resembling one exhibiting her studying the best way to stroll up a slanted fringe of her pool.
You’ll see her in loads of memes. Just as with the dearly departed Grumpy Cat and different famed web animals, it is simple to slap a caption on a photograph of Moo Deng that depicts her coping with life as we do. BuzzFeed even has a Moo Deng AI picture generator that places her into every kind of conditions, resembling turning into president or consuming a Dole Whip at Disney World.
The zookeeper who cares for pygmy hippo Moo Deng in Thailand cradles the animal’s head to be able to take a photograph.
How can I watch Moo Deng dwelling her finest life?
There’s a 24/7 webcam within the hippopotamus part on the zoo the place Moo Deng lives. (You might must scroll down and click on on the “Live Streaming” tab.) Bear time zones in thoughts; you could examine it within the afternoon the place you’re and discover out it is darkish and quiet in Thailand, with no animals seen.
If there’s nothing to observe while you tune in, the zoo can also be sharing recorded livestreams of Moo Deng on its YouTube channel.
Plus, the Associated Press streamed an hour of Moo Deng cuteness on Sept. 19, and you may watch that on YouTube.
Moo Deng merch: The face that launched 1,000 merchandise
Moo Deng’s international recognition has impressed a line of official merchandise that is being offered by Khao Kheow Open Zoo, together with fashionable pants and a button-down shirt, in addition to T-shirts that offered out shortly.
If you missed out on scoring an official piece of merch, a fast Google search reveals that you will discover unofficial Moo Deng shirts being offered on the whole lot from Amazon to Etsy and all over the place in between — although presumably ready for the restock to purchase immediately from the zoo will assist Moo Deng’s way of life.
You can discover Moo Deng plush toys, Moo Deng T-shirts, Moo Deng costumes, Moo Deng pants, Moo Deng pajamas, Moo Deng hats, Moo Deng mugs — and principally anything your hippo-loving coronary heart wishes. There’s even Moo Deng crypto.
How to observe Pesto the penguin
If you favor flightless aquatic birds to pygmy hippos, you possibly can comply with Pesto, the 9-month-old child king penguin on the Sea Life Aquarium in Melbourne, Australia. At 48 kilos, Pesto is larger than many grownup penguins already and eats 25 fish a day to remain that means.
“Pesto is the besto!” the aquarium brags on its webpage.
