Moo Deng, the Pygmy Hippo from Thailand, Is Getting Too Famous for Her Own Good

TikTok has given birth to a new generation of mini-celebrities. While most of those celebrities are humans, not all of them are. In fact, one of the platform’s newest (and biggest) stars is a pygmy hippopotamus from Thailand.

The hippo in question is named “Moo Deng” (which translates to “bouncing pig” or “pork patty”) after an internet poll found that was the most popular name for the little critter. Born in July, Moo Deng currently lives at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in the Chonburi Province of eastern Thailand. Pygmy hippos are considered an endangered species , with one conversation group estimating there are only 2,000 of the animals left in the wild.



One thing’s for sure: Moo Deng sureeeee is cute. Like other celebrities borne of TikTok, she has inspired viral adulation (her videos have garnered tens of millions of views online), which has encouraged large crowds of fans to accumulate at the zoo where he lives. At the same time, the cute baby animal has also begun to spawn a growing host of ad and sponsorship deals, NBC reports .

Unfortunately, the zoo where Moo Deng lives is worried about the little hippo’s growing stardom. Some fans have been displaying erratic, harmful behavior, including inexplicably throwing objects at the animal, Time magazine reports . As a result, the zoo is putting new restrictions on visitors’ access to her.

“These behaviors are not only cruel but also dangerous,” said zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi, addressing local media outlets, as quoted by NBC . “We must protect these animals and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable environment,” he said. We all know that fandom can get a little out of hand.

Just look at the unhinged devotees of Jodie Foster or Taylor Swift , for instance. A celebrity’s most zealous fans don’t always behave in the most rational ways. That said, who knows if Moo Deng’s stardom will last, since it seems increasingly possible that TikTok may not be around too much longer.

Indeed, the company is currently fighting for its life , as a legal challenge by critics seeks to effectively kill the platform’s presence in the U.S. Recently introduced legislation (which was signed into law by President Joe Biden) will soon force ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, to sell the platform or lose its presence in America.

Platform executives appeared in a federal appeals court today to argue that the law is a violation of the First Amendment rights of U.S. users .

It’s unclear if the federal judges in charge of the case will be swayed..