Thailand’s Tiny Hippo Star Causes Stir but Faces Challenges
A two-month-old pygmy hippo named Moo Deng is making waves online and at Khao Kheow Open Zoo near Pattaya, Thailand. Her cuteness has led to a surge in visitors, doubling the zoo’s attendance since her birth in July. However, her fame has brought problems. Videos have surfaced of visitors mistreating her, including throwing shellfish and splashing water to wake her. Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi has urged for respectful behavior and installed CCTV to monitor the situation. Moo Deng’s fame even inspired a line of beauty products and international media coverage.