What started as a baby hippo basking in the water has spiraled into something much bigger. Moo Deng has made a splash.
By Sophie Hubbard
A new celebrity is making headlines, not only stealing the paparazzi’s attention, but our hearts. Residing in Thailand, this adorable new icon possesses soft, pink, rosy cheeks, along with slippery skin and belly rolls hugging her. From sassing her caretakers by refusing bathtime, temper tantrums that involve a gentle chomp to the leg, moonwalking away, and soaking up the water hose, she keeps her fan base on the edge of their seats, waiting for her next big move.
Who is this diva sliding around and taking the crown? It’s the one and only, Moo Deng, who rose to fame at only two months old. Moo Deng, translating to “bouncy pork,” has successfully filled phone screens across the globe. Various users of TikTok have commented on Daily Mail’s videos on the app, saying that the reports of her glossy looks and dramatic attitude are said to be “real journalism” and “monumental” by commenters, indicating that this is the kinds of news they want to see covered.
Her appearance doesn’t stop online— her radiant cheeks have a glow that fans want to copy for themselves, leading to makeup lines that are “Moo Deng Coded,” TikTok profiles comment. Thai Sephora even has their specific blush guide, “Wear Your Blush Like a Baby Hippo,” linking products to grasp her pink and peachy tone, along with her fresh gloss. Sephora’s infatuation with Moo Deng has increased the boom of her looks. TikTok makeup influencers have taken the trending hippo and run with it, turning her natural looks into a lifestyle choice of their own. Beauty experts have said that the “Moo Deng glow” is about looking “young and fun,” giving the same energy that the little hippo expresses, without even trying.
People have even taken their love for Moo Deng and pressing this affection onto T-shirts, pajamas, mugs, and memes. A trending post is: “Which Moo Deng are you today?” Fans connect to this icon by relating to her several moods she expresses. Feeling lazy? Social media users can relate to a sleepy Moo Deng image. Feeling frustrated at the world? Don’t worry–-there is a Moo Deng image for that too. This is where the ethical question takes its place—Is the obsession of Moo Deng truly raising awareness for pygmy hippos, or is this spotlight damaging the rehabilitation progress of zoo animals, and simply just normalizing a form of animal cruelty? Are these displays of affection benefitting the celebrity and others, or exploiting her?
Moo Deng is a pygmy hippopotamus, a smaller species of hippo native primarily to the forests and swamps of West Africa. These pygmy hippos are less than a fourth of the size as a true hippopotamus, but still weigh from 400 to 600 pounds in adult form. These pygmy hippos love warm water and temperatures ranging from 80-86 degrees Fahrenheit, filling their days soaking and sleeping.
In the wild, there are less than 2,500 of these cute creatures—while the Nigerian subspecies is found to be extinct. In the tropical forests in West Africa, their sacred oasis is being taken away from them, attacking the numbers of pygmy hippos. This is due to human logging and pollution, turning their safe haven into a small sliver of destruction, labeling this species as endangered. Opposed to the wild, Moo Deng is sheltered in Khao Kheow Open Zoo, where solar panels keep her warm and her caretakers soothe Deng and her mother all day long.
Crowds wait at the gate, longing for a catch of a glimpse of her movement or her sassiness reflecting off her glistening skin. However, this zoo is still a zoo. It remains true to its original purpose: a public exhibition. In Thailand, there has been many previous incidents of this country’s zoos being unethical. Many of these animals used in tourist attractions and zoos have been mistreated and abused. Although, Khao Kheow Open Zoo only posted a short video of the baby animal at their zoo, displaying the new addition to the family with love.
However, with the social media boom of this slippery, bouncy creature, this Thailand zoo has been flooded with tourists who beg to get their own time with the world’s princess. This VIP hippo has surveillance cameras surrounding her enclosure, as well as her own security guard, as a celebrity does. Her fame is so large that visitors only get five minutes with her, and visiting days have moved to weekends only. However, some people have put their own interests above this hippo, choosing to forget that this icon is still a living animal, as well as a baby. There have been reports of visitors throwing water and shellfish at the rosy-cheeked creature to gain her attention. In efforts to protect her, the zoo increased her security due to this incident.
Additionally, multiple videos of upset fans have been posted, annoyed that Moo Deng was sleeping instead of putting on a show during their short visit. To gain more exposure for this celebrity, Deng’s caretakers film themselves poking her and slapping her bouncy skin, even when she is in beauty sleep mode. This is posted on TikTok, creating adorable, yet questioning, content of Moo Deng’s reactions, such as her running to her mother.
Some argue that this baby hippo is being exploited and needs to be sheltered from the public, while experts back up these thoughts by warning that such intense exposure could lead to stress and behavioral issues for Moo Deng.
With the viral videos of Moo Deng consuming the feeds of various social media platforms, darkness accompanies our bright screens. With the more views, more visitors, and more money, the less of a hope there is for Moo Deng to be released into the wilderness, where she truly belongs. The truth is, however, given her upbringing so far, she’d be unable to survive there.
Not to mention that since baby hippo habitats are being destroyed by logging and pollution, it may be safer for Moo Deng to be sheltered in the zoo with an immense amount of care rather than the wild. But can this care amount to the life she was intended to live in the wild?
As fans reflect on Moo Deng’s journey from a cute baby hippo to a global figure, it’s essential to consider the broad lessons and meanings of her fame. While her upbeat bursts of energy, relaxing slumber, and minor tantrums bring joy, laughter, and a sense of belonging to millions, they also highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts and responsible tourism surrounding wildlife.
Overall, I still think the exposure of Moo Deng has had a positive effect. Although this exposure keeps this hippo in the zoo, Moo Deng has successfully alerted the world about her fading species. Zoos such as the Edinburgh Zoo in the United Kingdom have partaken in breeding programs for pygmy hippos, recently giving birth to baby pygmy hippo, Haggis, in November. With the following of Moo Deng, the donations to save these hippos have increased. Organizations like Fauna & Flora have been raising money to support teams in Liberia that use DNA and cameras to pin the locations of pygmy hippos to help protect them and their habitats.
But we also can’t let this individual pygmy hippo, Moo Deng, be a casualty of a bigger cause. We have to care for her too. She has told the world who she is–a star. A hippo you can’t just find anywhere, but a hippo we need to find everywhere. A celebrity that has already made an impact, but hopefully continues to make an impact on her species, and other animals. As a whole, we can continue to embrace sassy stars who moonwalk away and squeal, but we need to go about it in a way that becomes less invasive.
When visiting stars like Moo Deng, it is important to remember she is a living creature, who can also feel stress. And if there is one thing we know about Moo Deng, she knows how to steal the spotlight, all while reminding us that true stars shine brightest when treated with respect, showing the world that fame and dignity can go hand in hand.
Instead of solely consuming content for entertainment, viewers and fans should be encouraged to take action and support organizations that protect the natural habitats of pygmy hippos and other animal species. Awareness can lead to action if fallen into the right hands, and if Moo Deng’s large fanbase can inspire a group of her followers to come together and unite as advocates of her species, then possibly others will follow, and change can be made.
What can be easily forgotten, is that behind the screens and relatable memes, lies a living creature whose well-being should always be above our entertainment needs. Moo Deng’s rise to the top opens a conversation about ethical workings of zoos in a world of social media and intense publicity. While zoos can play a huge role in education of animal species and conservation and care, in today’s age, these institutions must navigate the thin line between entertainment and exposure, and the ethical treatment of their animals.
If the public works together to press on zoos like Khao Kheow Open Zoo for a change, these zoos can serve as learning examples and models for how to navigate the balance of public obsession while maintaining ethical laws, ensuring that adored divas like Moo Deng are not only adored—but treated with dignity.