Meet Moo Deng: The Viral Baby Pygmy Hippo Captivating Social Media Fans!

With her rosy cheeks and charming personality, two-month-old pygmy hippo Moo Deng is attracting big crowds to the Thai zoo where she lives. Moo Deng, which roughly means "bouncy pig" in Thai, has become a social media sensation since her keepers began sharing moments from her life online. Moo Deng's name was selected through a popular vote conducted by the zoo.

Born in July to parents Jonah and Tony, Moo Deng has two siblings with names inspired by various pork dishes.Her half-sisters are named Moo Tun, which means stewed pork, and Moo Wan, which translates to sweet pork.

According to Khao Kheow Open Zoo, visitor numbers have nearly doubled since Moo Deng's birth. However, not all the attention Moo Deng is getting is positive. Moo Deng's popularity has led some zoo visitors to mistreat her.Videos shared online show some visitors throwing shellfish and splashing water on the hippo to try to wake her up.

The zoo has set up CCTV cameras around the enclosure and has warned of legal action against anyone who mistreats the baby hippo.Crowd management measures have also been put in place.Khao Kheow Open Zoo is restricting groups to 50 people and giving them five minutes to observe Moo Deng and the other pygmy hippos.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that there are fewer than 3,000 pygmy hippos remaining in the wild. Moo Deng's small size and charming personality have become a viral sensation. One specific video shared on Facebook, featuring her yawning, has received 5.8 million views and continues to grow.

ALSO READ: Airtel Implements AI Technology to Combat Spam Calls and Messages