Thai Zoo Is Trademarking ‘Moo Deng the Hippo’ to Commercialize Its Internet Starlet

As a longtime animal lover who has spent countless hours observing and caring for various creatures at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, I must say that the recent fame of Moo Deng, our beloved pygmy hippo, has been an extraordinary journey. I’ve been capturing moments of these beautiful animals for years, but never did I imagine one would become a global sensation within weeks.

CHONBURI, Thailand — Just a month since the endearing baby hippo named Moo Deng made her debut on Facebook, her popularity has skyrocketed, capturing hearts not just in Thailand but around the world.

For approximately five years, the zookeeper named Atthapon Nundee has been sharing adorable moments of the animals he looks after on the internet. He never expected that the newborn pygmy hippo from Khao Kheow Open Zoo would gain immense internet popularity in just a few weeks.

On Thursday, cars filled up outside the zoo long before it even opened. People came from all around, eager to catch a glimpse of the adorable 2-month-old resident at the zoo, approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Bangkok. The enclosure where Moo Deng resides with her mother, Jona, was quickly filled to capacity, as visitors exclaimed with delight whenever the playful little creature moved about.

This surpassed all my anticipations,” said Atthapon to The Associated Press. “My wish was for many to get to know her, to drop by in person, or view her on the web, or post joyful remarks. I could never have imagined it would turn out this way.

In Thai, “Moo Deng” translates to “bouncy pork,” which is actually a type of meatball. This name was decided upon by fans through an online survey, and it fits nicely with her other kin: “Moo Toon” (stewed pork) and “Moo Waan” (sweet pork). Interestingly, there’s also a well-known hippo at the zoo called “Kha Moo,” which translates to “stewed pork leg.

During her visit to the zoo on Thursday, Moo Deng fan Areeya Sripanya playfully remarked, ‘She’s so small! I wish I could gather her up and consume her entirely!’

Already, Moo Deng has been made into memes. Artists are drawing cartoons based on her. Social media platform X even featured her in its official account’s post.

Due to their newfound popularity, zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi has initiated the process of registering “Moo Deng the hippo” for patents and trademarks. This move is designed to protect the animal from exploitation by others. Once completed, these registrations will generate additional revenue that can be used to enhance the living conditions of all animals at the zoo.

“The benefits we get will return to the zoo to improve the life of all animals here.”

Located on approximately 2,000 acres (or around 800 hectares) of land, this zoo serves as a residence for over 2,000 animals, including several endangered species such as Moo Deng’s breeding program participants. One such endangered species is the pygmy hippopotamus, native to West Africa, which faces threats from poaching and habitat loss. There are estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 of these creatures remaining in their natural habitats.

The zoo plans to sell Moo Deng branded t-shirts and trousers towards the end of this month to aid in financing the project. More items will be added to the collection soon.

Narongwit thinks that one reason Moo Deng is famous is because her name suits her lively and unpredictable character, which is beautifully portrayed by Atthapon’s clever captions and videos.

Suitably, Moo Deng enjoys “bouncing around,” and Atthapon frequently captures adorable and amusing instances of this playful bounce on social media. Even when she’s not bouncing, the hippo remains endearingly cute—wiggling as Atthapon attempts to bathe her, nibbling at him while they play, peacefully closing her eyes as he gently rubs her rosy cheeks or chubby stomach.

Eight-year veteran zoo worker Atthapon shared his insights on the behavior of different animals, particularly baby hippos. He noted that these young creatures are often more lively and active compared to their mature counterparts. As they grow up, he explained, they tend to become calmer in demeanor.

Due to the increased popularity of Moo Deng, the zoo has experienced a significant rise in visitors. As a result, they have had to implement restrictions on public access to the baby’s enclosure, allowing only five-minute intervals throughout the weekend days.

Narongwit mentioned that on weekdays, the zoo now sees over 4,000 visitors, compared to only about 800 in the past. On weekends, the number exceeds 10,000, a significant increase from approximately 3,000 people previously.

However, notoriety has additionally attracted some disruptive guests to Moo Deng’s vicinity. These individuals seem to find amusement in disturbing her rest as she wakes up only for a brief span of approximately two hours daily. Some footage revealed these visitors splashing water or hurling objects at the slumbering Moo Deng with an aim to rouse her. To maintain Moo Deng’s safety, a warning sign prohibiting object-throwing has been erected at the entrance, clearly visible in Thai, English, and Chinese.

Narongwit stated that the zoo would enforce animal welfare regulations if visitors harmed animals. However, videos surfaced showing mistreatment of Moo Deng, sparking significant criticism. Since these incidents, the zoo director reported no further instances of such behavior.

For those unable to attend or deterred by the large crowds at Moo Deng, Khao Kheow Open Zoo will soon broadcast a continuous 24-hour live stream featuring their adorable new hippo baby.

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2024-09-19 12:06