The pygmy hippopotamus, now 6 months old, is Thailand’s biggest celebrity, and the crowds keep flocking. What explains her charm?

Big eyes, tiny noses and round cheeks; scientists explain why animals like Moo Deng the pygmy hippo have us hooked.

CHONBURI, Thailand – Moo Deng does not bounce like she did a couple of months ago. But she still resembles a ripe avocado overstuffed with pate. She retains a moist sheen. She snuffles.

Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo, became an overnight sensation online. Videos of her were watched by millions. But conservationists say that popularity hasn’t resulted in any change on the ground ...

CHONBURI, Thailand (NYTimes via The Straits Times/ANN): Moo Deng does not bounce like she did a couple of months ago. But she still resembles a ripe avocado overstuffed with pate. She retains a ...

On Tuesday morning, the “Today” show joined in celebrating the arrival of the elephant calf. In the “Morning Boost” segment, ...

Is it any wonder that millions of people turned to a pugnacious baby pygmy hippo for a little relief? Moo Deng was born July 10, 2024, at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Bang Phra, Thailand. In September, ...

One of the best things that can happen to a zoo or aquarium is for one of their resident animals to go viral. But what ...

“Move over, Moo Deng,” co-host Savannah Guthrie said, as footage aired of a Thailand zoo’s pygmy hippopotamus, who became an internet sensation in 2024. “Moo Deng who?” said co-host ...

LIKE most babies, Moo Deng spends a lot of her time sleeping. But for a few hours a day, the almost five-month-old pygmy hippo springs to life, gumming on leaves, zooming around the compound ...

He's small, cute and viral: the baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng, housed in a Thai zoo, has become the star of millions of posts, memes and videos around the world. But in the wild, the pygmy ...