Better get those Moo Deng memes out of your system! In an interview with the Associated Press published on Thursday, Sept. 19, zookeeper Atthapon Nundee of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand revealed that viral baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng may get her own patent after skyrocketing to internet fame over the past few weeks.
The zookeeper shared that by trademarking “Moo Deng the hippo,” the zoo can prevent others from capitalizing on the animal and may be able to obtain “more income to support activities that will make the animals’ lives better.”
Since going viral from adorable posts on the zoo’s Instagram and TikTok accounts, Moo Deng, the pygmy hippopotamus, has appeared almost everywhere. Brands like Sephora and the New York Mets have used her likeness.
The Thai zoo funds multiple breeding programs for endangered species — including one for clouded leopards — and hopes to support these conservation projects by patenting the popular animal’s image and selling branded merchandise.
When it comes to Moo Deng’s fame, Nundee said, “It was beyond expectation. I wanted people to know her. I wanted a lot of people to visit her or watch her online or leave fun comments. I never would’ve thought [of this].”
The baby pygmy hippo is about two months old and has increased visitors to the zoo. AP states that during weekdays, over 4,000 visitors come compared to around 800 before Moo Deng became famous. On weekends, there are about three times as many guests as usual with approximately 10,000 people visiting.
Now because of Moo Deng’s surging popularity, guests are limited to a 5-minute visit on Saturdays and Sundays so everyone gets a chance without stressing out the animal.
The pygmy hippopotamus is an endangered species with a decreasing population due to poaching and habitat changes according to The IUCN Red List. Experts estimate there are only 2-3 thousand mature pygmy hippos left in their natural habitat.
In a separate interview with The Guardian newspaper,Nundee said he set a goal of making Moo Deng famous when he first saw her but never expected international recognition.
The outlet credits TikTok for making this baby hippo famous as their account currently has 2.7 million followers.The two pinned videos featuring Moo-Deng have accumulated millions of views respectively.The most recent video gathered over four hundred thousand views in just three hours.
“I hope that cuteness will raise awareness for people,” Nundee shared
