Baby hippo Moo Deng has been all over the internet in Thailand,
winning fans over with her energetic and charming antics such as
snacking on grapes or chewing on her handlers’ knees when they’re giving
her a shower.
The mammalian child star whose name translates to “bouncing pig” in
Thai has resulted in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo enjoying an influx of
tourists – zoo director Narungwit Chodchoy has shared that the zoo now
sees up to 4,000 people on weekdays and 20,000 visitors on the weekends.
The zoo has also released merchandise and clothing featuring designs
based on the baby hippo.
However, not all the attention has been positive: Some visitors have
been reported for behaving inappropriately, such as throwing water or
other projectiles at Moo Deng to wake her up.
Since then, Khao Kheow Open Zoo has installed security cameras around
her enclosure and threatened to take legal action against harassers.
Owing to the high volume of visitors, the zoo has also implemented a
five-minute time limit for visitors to see Moo Deng.