Viral Baby Hippo Moo Deng Draws Massive Crowds and Raises Safety Concerns

The two-month-old pygmy hippo at Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo has become an internet sensation, but her fame has led to troubling visitor behavior.

Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo, has significantly increased visitor numbers at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, doubling weekend attendance.
The zoo has installed CCTV cameras and limited visitor viewing times to protect Moo Deng from mistreatment by overzealous fans.
Reports of visitors throwing items and splashing water on Moo Deng have led zoo officials to issue warnings and threaten legal action.
Moo Deng's online popularity has inspired fan art, memes, and even a line of Moo Deng-themed merchandise from brands like Sephora.
Conservationists hope that Moo Deng's fame will raise awareness about the endangered status of pygmy hippos, with fewer than 3,000 remaining in the wild.