Moo Deng
The story of Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo born at Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo in July 2024 who bounced her way to global internet superstardom: the memes, the SNL sketch, the election pick, the backlash, and her first birthday.
A chronological documentary of 83 moments spanning 2024–2026 on Loreline.
Curated by Olivier · last updated 2026-09-20
Eras
- Born at Khao Kheow, Born 10 July 2024 to mother Jonah and father Tony, named "Moo Deng", "bouncy pork", by a public poll of 20,000 votes.
- Viral Explosion, September 2024: keeper Atthapon's clips of the slippery, hose-biting baby hippo take over the internet and double the zoo's daily visitors.
- Meme & Makeup, The skincare and makeup-trend edits, the fan art, the merch, Moo Deng becomes a format.
- Global Fame, Bowen Yang plays her on SNL, she picks Trump's fruit bowl, and the whole mainstream press piles in.
- Welfare & Backlash, Visitors throwing things to wake her, the zoo's five-minute limit and legal threats, the trademark grab, and the PETA criticism.
- Birthday, One year old. The pygmy hippo's first birthday at Khao Kheow, the fruit cake and the four-day celebration, and the wire services, networks and morning shows that all sent someone to film it.
- - Adorable Baby Hippo Moo Deng in Social Media at Khao Kheow Zoo. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - A Zoo In Thailand Has Welcomed A Baby Hippo Named "Bouncy Pork". Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Pygmy hippo Moo Deng's viral fame is coming at a 'cruel' cost. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo (2024-09-10). Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo (2024-09-11). Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo (2024-09-12) (1 of 4). Pygmy hippopotamus "Moo Deng" at Khao Kheo Zoo, Thailand.
- - Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo (2024-09-12) (2 of 4). Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo (2024-09-12) (3 of 4). Pygmy hippopotamus "Moo Deng" at Khao Kheo Zoo, Thailand.
- - Moo-Deng: the two-month-old baby pygmy hippo becoming an online giant. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo (2024-09-12) (4 of 4). Pygmy hippopotamus "Moo Deng" at Khao Kheo Zoo, Thailand.
- - She's an Icon, She's a Legend, and She Is the Moment. Meet Viral Baby Hippo Moo Deng. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo (2024-09-13). Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Baby hippo named Moo Deng becomes viral sensation. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo (2024-09-14). Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Meet viral baby pygmy hippo 'Moo Deng'. Moo Deng, a two-month-old baby pygmy hippo, is capturing the hearts and minds of fans through her daily TikTok videos.
- - Meet the 2-month-old pygmy hippo 'Moo Deng' melting hearts around the world. She's been an online sensation ever since zookeepers at the 'Khao Kheow' open zoo in Thailand started uploading snippets of her life online.
- - Moo Deng is troubled by visitors after becoming international sensation. Moo Deng, the adorable baby pygmy hippo from Thailand, is a social media sensation, but her fame has led to troubling harassment. Visitors have pelted her with food and even drenched her with water. Discover how Khao Kheow Zoo is stepping up security to protect her, and see why this endangered hippo has captured hearts worldwide. Watch the full story and join the conversation!
- - Baby Hippo Moo Deng Is a Social Media Star. A 2-month old hippopotamus with social media clout is attracting visitors to a Thai zoo. Moo Deng, a wiggly pygmy hippo, has quite a fanbase online. Her first video clip got over 20 million views.
- - Moo Deng: The viral baby pygmy hippo becomes global TikTok star. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Baby hippo Moo Deng gets bullied by visitors after going viral. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng: Bouncing baby hippo drawing large crowds. Thailand's newest internet sensation, baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng, is drawing large crowds to Khao Kheow Open Zoo, two hours south of Bangkok - and will soon be on livestream.
- - Moo Deng tries to bite keeper and hose as she delights Thai zoo visitors. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Viral baby hippo: Zoo visitors love Moo Deng. Baby hippo Moo Deng is the new sweetheart of the internet. Since the hippo was born two months ago, the number of visitors to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo has doubled.
- - Meanwhile... Moo Deng The Tiny Hippo. Meanwhile... The world's cutest animal is a baby pygmy hippo named Moo Deng, Chipotle has a new machine that makes guacamole, and scientists did some weird experiments involving mice and the dust from a bag of Doritos.
- - The Internet Is Obsessed With This Screaming Baby Hippo Named Moo-Deng. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Thai zoo seeks to patent baby hippo Moo Deng, or "bouncy pork". Moo Deng, which literally means "bouncy pork" in Thai, is a type of meatball. The name was chosen by fans via a poll on social media, and it matches her other siblings: Moo Toon (stewed pork) and Moo Waan (sweet pork). There is also a common hippo at the zoo named Kha Moo (stewed pork leg).
- - Thai zoo moves to patent image of viral baby hippo Moo Deng. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - People are throwing things at Moo Deng? Zoo director warns visitors. Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo that has become a viral social media star has attracted thousands of visitors to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand where she lives. CBC Kids News contributor Ainara Alleyne explains why some of those visitors have been accused of behaving badly.
- - Baby hippo Moo Deng draws a crowd. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Thailand's baby hippo Moo Deng becomes internet sensation. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng becomes global sensation. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Meet Moo Deng, Thailand's baby hippo with 2.7 million TikTok followers. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng may get own patent, trademark. Only a month after Thailand's adorable baby hippo Moo Deng was unveiled on Facebook, her fame became unstoppable both domestically and internationally.
- - Meet Moo Deng, the viral baby hippo quickly becoming the star of a Thai zoo. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Thai zoo moves to patent image of baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng Fan Art from the IDS Team. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Meet Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo taking the internet by storm. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - I WANT MOO DENG!!! (Chibidoki clip). Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Weekend Update: Baby Hippo Moo Deng on Fame - SNL. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Lil Moo Deng (Official Music Video). Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng - The Rapper of the Zoo (Theme song). Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Alan Aztec - Moo Deng (feat. Bouncy Pork). Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng mania: Thai hippo's viral fame boosts local businesses. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - The Best Moo Deng Moments. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng mango donuts - the merch (2024). Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Does Moo Deng have pretty privilege? - BBC World Service. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng the hippo star seen in stores everywhere. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Meet Moo Deng, the very cutesy pygmy hippo! | AHA!. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Thailand's Moo Deng predicts US election outcome. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng the baby hippo predicts Donald Trump will win US election. Celebrity baby hippo Moo Deng has predicted the 2024 US presidential election winner. The pygmy hippo was given the choice between two fruit cakes. One cake was carved with Republican nominee Donald Trump's name and the other with Democrat nominee Kamala Harris.
- - Moo Deng makes her election prediction. Thailand’s famous pygmy hippo Moo Deng ‘predicted’ that Former President Donald Trump will win the US election, in a video posted by Khao Kheow Open Zoo, where the hippo lives and rose to popularity. The hippo was offered two fruit baskets, each labelled with the names of the presidential candidates.
- - Moo-ve over Moo Deng! There's a new baby pygmy hippo in town. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Beloved hippo Moo Deng predicted Trump would win US presidential election. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng Accurately Predicts Trump to Win US Election. Moo Deng's debut in predicting the results of the US presidential election shocked the world. The baby hippo precisely predicted that Trump would be the winner. Khao Kheow Zoo provided two pumpkins containing the same fruits, marked Donald Trump and Kamala Harris respectively for Moo Deng to choose from the day before the US election. 70 visitors witnessed the perfect predictions.
- - SNL joins in on rivalry between baby pygmy hippos Haggis and Moo Deng. The popular American TV show Saturday Night Live has joined in on a rivalry between viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng and Haggis, who was born at Edinburgh Zoo last month.
- - Thailand zoo releases official Moo Deng song. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - I want Moo Deng for Christmas. Who else has been obsessed with the little pygmy hippo Moo Deng?
- - Moo Deng named one of the Most Stylish People of 2024 by the New York Times. Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo from Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, has been named one of the “63 Most Stylish People of 2024” by the New York Times. Known for her charm and playful antics, Moo Deng gained international attention after her debut in July, just two weeks old.
- - I Want A Moo Deng For Christmas - Animation. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Chibidoki Wants a Moo-deng for Christmas!. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng is still the hippopotamus everyone wants for Christmas. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng Wins "Meme Of The Year 2024". She's become a celebrity and is only just five months old! Moo Deng, a Pygmy Hippo Calf at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand has won "Meme of the Year 2024" on X [Formerly Twitter]. The social media site says around 7.7 million posts have been made about Moo Deng since her birth in the summer.
- - Baby Pygmy Hippo Moo Deng: Cruelty Not Conservationism. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - NOO!! MOO DENG!!. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Thai zoo home to Moo Deng is patenting the pygmy hippo. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - MNRE Assures Proper Care for Moo Deng Amid Allegations from PETA. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has confirmed that Khao Kheow Open Zoo is providing proper care for Moo Deng, the well-known pygmy hippopotamus. The ministry has also invited PETA to inspect the zoo following allegations of animal exploitation.
- - 'White Lotus' S3 cast is starstruck meeting Moo Deng in Thailand. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Chappell Roan Addresses Criticism of Bowen Yang's Viral Moo Deng 'SNL' Sketch. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng the hippo celebrates 1st birthday. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Baby pygmy hippo sensation Moo Deng celebrates first birthday. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng the Hippo Turns One, Thailand's Internet Star Celebrates. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng celebrates first birthday at a Thailand zoo. Happy birthday, Moo Deng! Thousands of fans have flocked to a Thailand zoo to celebrate the baby pygmy hippo and social media sensation's first birthday. For video licensing inquiries, contact: [email protected].
- - Pygmy hippo Moo Deng celebrates first birthday with fruit cake. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Happy 1st Birthday, Moo Deng!. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng celebrates first birthday with giant feast and four-day celebration. Moo Deng, arguably the world's most famous pygmy hippo, is celebrating her first birthday with a giant feast and four-day celebration at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo.
- - Moo Deng celebrates 1st birthday. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Moo Deng, the baby hippo who took social media by storm, turns 1. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Baby pygmy hippo sensation Moo Deng marks first birthday, AP explains. (10 Jul 2025) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Chonburi, Thailand - 10 July 2025 1. Pygmy hippo Moo Deng walking out of water 2. Pan from crowd watching to Moo Deng and her mother Jona eating birthday treat 3. Moo Deng eating 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Tian Macleod Ji, The Associated Press: "The world-famous baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng has turned one today. Her zoo in Thailand is marking the occasion today with a large makeshift cake made of fruits and vegetables. The cake was brought into Moo Deng's enclosure,…
- - Moo Deng celebrates first birthday at zoo in Thailand. (10 Jul 2025) \r \r STORYLINE:\r \r \r ===========================================================\r \r Clients are reminded: \r (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 74...
- - Global baby pygmy hippo superstar Moo Deng celebrates first birthday at zoo in Thailand. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - A Moo Deng mural in Birmingham, UK (2025). Moo Deng mural, Floodgate Street, with Custard Factory behind.
- - Fans Concerned Over Moo Deng's Living Conditions, Zoo Issues Statement. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
- - Man climbs into viral hippo Moo Deng's enclosure. Part of the story of Moo Deng.
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