At Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand a baby hippo known as Moo-Deng has become a viral sensation. The baby hippo is an endangered species of hippo known as the pygmy hippo, which is a species that tends to be smaller than the average hippopotamus. Pygmy hippos can be found in West Africa, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast. Moo-Deng, although only about 4 months old, has drawn hundreds of thousands of people to the zoo.

Moo-Deng lives at the zoo with her mother. Her fame began when the baby hippo was spotted laying underneath her mother, as water was poured on them by zookeepers. After that, posts on Facebook by the zoo had been blowing up, initially giving Moo-Deng her name, which translates to bouncy pork.

The hippo, known for it’s adorable looks and spunky attitude, has been used as an advertisement and to attract customers into “hopping on the trends”. The company Sephora has used Moo-Deng as a way to advertise several makeup products and brands, with titles like “wear your blush like a baby hippo.” Moo-deng has also been mentioned by several sports teams, meme lovers, and even a cryptocurrency.

Because of Moo-Deng’s popularity at the zoo, her safety has become a concern for zoo keepers as several fans have been spotted throwing water and other objects at her, according to the NY Times. As a result, limits have been imposed, like isolating the hippo from fans on Saturdays and Sundays. Moo-Deng, aside from being a cute face, has attracted more attention at the zoo but has also positively affected businesses. Starting from a very young age, Moo-Deng has become a powerful icon, and continues to intrigue fans!