If you’re familiar with some of my work here at The Ramapo News, then you know my stances on animal rights and zoos. Pretty much all of my closest friends continuously send me cute animal videos on Instagram and TikTok, and the latest animal sensation popping up on my feed is Moo Deng.
Moo Deng, a two-month-old pygmy hippo whose name translates to “bouncy pork,” has gone viral on social media for her silly antics and contradictory feelings towards water.
This sweet creature resides in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Bang Phra, Thailand, and her fame is credited to 31-year-old zookeeper Atthapon Nundee. “The moment I saw Moo-Deng born, I set a goal to make her famous,” he said, and it most definitely worked.
According to BBC, “visitor numbers have doubled since her birth in July,” and the zoo has since had to start selling merchandise that includes shirts and pants.
I’m not going to lie, Moo Deng is super cute, but this is a prime example of exploitation and I am extremely saddened and frustrated with the way people are treating her.
Since Moo Deng is still a baby, most of her time is spent either sleeping or nursing, but with so many people going to see her and expecting a show, she is being harassed. Recently, “tourists were accused of throwing water and seashells…to wake her, apparently because they wanted to take photos,” The Guardian announced.
Surveillance cameras have since been installed and Moo Deng even has her own security guard now, and Instagram account @environment noted that zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi has rightfully “threatened legal action against disruptive guests.”
It is actually heartbreaking to know that Moo Deng has been subjected to this behavior, but I’m glad to see that users in the comments are agreeing. “why can’t people be normal about anything,” user @ghoost_in_the_machine said; “why do people have to harass her,” @_hollyrussell_ commented, “poor baby angel.”
While there is so much more I could say about this behavior towards precious Moo Deng, all you need to know is that it is not okay and people need to stop acting so entitled. I urge people to do research on pygmy hippos (they are endangered!) to gain more information and to stop feeding into animal exploitation.
ajones11@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @moodengx, X
