‘Moo Deng who?’ Pygmy hippo calf gives the viral zoo sensation competition in Scotland
Months after a baby pygmy hippopotamus living in Thailand took the internet by storm, she’s facing competition from halfway around the world.
Moo Deng, known for her sassy attitude and affinity for biting, made her way from the Khao Kheow Open Zoo’s Facebook page to worldwide merchandise and the Saturday Night Live set in a matter of weeks after videos online reached millions of viewers.
Now, a pygmy hippo calf born in Scotland may be ready to take on the mantle.
Baby girl Haggis was born Oct. 30 to parents Otto and Gloria at the Edinburgh Zoo, the zoo announced in a Nov. 4 news release and social media posts.
“Moo Deng who?” the zoo asked.
“Haggis is doing really well so far and it is amazing to see her personality beginning to shine already,” zoo hoofstock leader Jonny Appleyard said. “The first 30 days are critical for her development, so the pygmy hippo house will be closed for now to allow us to keep a close eye on mum and baby at this sensitive time.”
Appleyard said that despite Moo Deng bringing awareness to the species as a whole, “it is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare.”
Pygmy hippos live in Liberia and other parts of West Africa in forest and swamp environments, according to the zoo. They are listed as endangered, and wildlife officials estimate there are 2,500 still living in the wild, largely due to habitat loss.
“It is great to have our own little ambassador right here in Edinburgh to connect with our visitors and help raise awareness of the challenges the species face in the wild,” Appleyard said.
The zoo later apologized to Moo Deng and said “there is space in this world for two beautiful pygmy hippo divas and we should celebrate them all.”
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo is in southern Scotland, along the coast of the North Sea.
