Moo Deng the viral baby hippo is getting a 24/7 livestream

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Credit: Carola Frentzen/dpa/Alamy Live News/Alamy Stock Photo

 

Get ready to hippo-thetically spend your entire day glued to your screen, because Thailand’s pudgiest internet star is about to make a splash in the world of livestreaming. Moo Deng, the pint-sized pygmy hippo with a name that translates to “bouncy pork,” is set to become the star of her very own 24/7 reality show.

 

This two-month-old bundle of joy from Khao Kheow Open Zoo, located about 62 miles southeast of Bangkok, has been making waves online worldwide. Zookeeper Atthapon Nundee’s social media posts of Moo Deng's playful antics have turned her into a viral sensation, with fans from around the globe falling head over heels for her expressive face and skittish, not very demure, movements.

 

 

The zoo’s decision to launch a round-the-clock live stream comes as a response to the sudden influx of visitors clamoring to see Moo Deng in person, which has led to some unfortunate bullying incidents. According to zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi, the livestream will help raise funds for the zoo's conservation efforts.

 

 

Khao Kheow Open Zoo is no small operation. Spanning 800 hectares and home to over 2,000 animals, it plays a central role in breeding programs for several endangered species, including Moo Deng’s own—the rare pygmy hippopotamus. The funds raised through Moo Deng’s newfound fame will contribute directly to these important protective initiatives.

 

 

 

Besides the livestream, Moo Deng merch, including shirts and pants, is set to hit the shelves by the end of the month.

 

Notably, the zoo is also in the process of patenting and trademarking “Moo Deng the hippo” to prevent unauthorized commercialization and ensure that profits from Moo Deng’s image directly benefit the zoo and its conservation programs.

 

 

 

 

• https://www.vulture.com/article/moo-deng-hippo-live-stream.html 
• https://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/moo-deng-livestream/ 
• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/moo-deng-baby-hippo-thailand-zoo-bouncy-pork-goes-viral/ 
• https://apnews.com/article/moo-deng-baby-hippo-thailand-zoo-27485f0cbc70071252be45d870d507aa 

 

 

Image: Carola Frentzen/dpa/Alamy Live News/Alamy Stock Photo