Meet Mudeng: The Adorable Baby Hippopotamus Captivating Thailand’s Heart
Mudeng, the Baby Hippopotamus Taking Asia by Storm
The baby hippopotamus ‘Mudeng’, who is gaining explosive popularity not only in Thailand but also in various Asian countries, is a hot topic among netizens. According to local media outlet Bangkok Post, British broadcaster BBC, and daily Guardian, the female pygmy hippopotamus born in June at the ‘Khao Keow Open Zoo’ near Pattaya, Thailand, was named ‘Mudeng’, which means ‘bouncy pig’.
The media reported that a video of the baby hippo’s small and cute appearance is causing a sensation as it spreads through social media such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
As visitors flocked to see Mudeng, the zoo’s visitation rate nearly doubled since Mudeng’s birth. At one point, more than 12,000 people flocked to the zoo from the morning opening, causing great congestion. Recently, the zoo took steps to manage the situation by limiting each person’s viewing time to five minutes.
Mudeng’s Rise to Fame
The zoo is also actively promoting Muden. Out of 150 SNS posts since the hippo’s birth, 128 feature Muden, and they are selling various products (goods) containing Muden, such as shirts and pants, online.
Sephora, a global beauty editor shop, is also selling a cosmetic product called ‘Baby Hippo Blusher’ inspired by Mudang.
The global media is also reporting on Muden’s popularity, with the American weekly news magazine Time recently covering Muden under the title, “He is an icon and a legend.”
A Zookeeper’s Dream Come True
“The moment I saw Mudeng being born, I set my sights on making Mudeng famous,” said zookeeper Attapon Nundi (31), who uploaded the video about Mudeng.
He added, ”I thought Mudeng might become famous in Thailand, but I never thought he would become so famous internationally.”
Concerns Over Visitor Behavior
However, as the number of visitors to the zoo increased, the media also reported that there was an increase in inconsiderate visitors, such as spraying water to wake up the monkeys for photos or throwing clams to feed them.
In response, the zoo installed closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) around Mudeng’s enclosure and warned that it would take legal action against visitors who abuse Mudeng.
“This behavior is not only cruel, it is also dangerous,” the zoo said in an online statement. “We must protect these animals and ensure they have a safe and comfortable environment.”
About Pygmy Hippopotamuses
The pygmy hippopotamus is a small species of hippopotamus, weighing only 180–280 kg as an adult, about one-eighth of the average hippopotamus.
They mainly live in West Africa, and with an estimated 3,000 individuals currently remaining in the wild, they are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).