A baby hippo takes the world by storm – but not everyone is nice to him

Move aside, Fiona!

Just kidding – there’s room on the Internet for more than one charismatic hippo.

And that’s a good thing, because Moo Deng, a two-month-old pygmy hippo, is about to make her big entrance. The young hippo lives at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand. Her name, which means “jumping pig,” is also the name of a popular chewy pork dish, CNN reports.

Moo Deng’s expressive face and petite, chubby body have made her a social media star, with fans calling her a “lifestyle icon” and “the most beautiful girl in the world.”

Especially in recent days, she has gained international recognition; Time magazine called her a “legend” and “the big moment”.

When she was born, zoo staff knew they had something special on their hands, but even they couldn’t have predicted her impact.

“From the moment I saw Moo-Deng’s birth, I set out to make her famous, but I never expected the word to spread abroad,” zookeeper Atthapon Nundee told the Guardian.

Fame hasn’t been a walk in the park for Moo Deng, though. The Khao Kheow Open Zoo has reportedly seen a significant increase in visitors since her birth in July, and not all of her fans are polite. Videos shared online show some people throwing things at her and splashing water on her when she’s sleeping to wake her up.

“This behavior is not only cruel, but also dangerous,” said zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi. The zoo has now installed surveillance cameras and threatened legal action against any harassers, he explained.

While the Khao Kheow Open Zoo has received increasing positive press coverage because of Moo Deng, it has come under fire in recent years for its floating elephant shows. Critics have accused the zoo of using cruel, painful methods to force elephants to perform in water – an accusation the zoo denies.

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