Zoo pygmy hippo adored by internet

For users scrolling through TikTok, X and Instagram, one animal has emerged as the undisputed star of 2024: Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand.

- Teo Kai Xiang

Born on July 10, Moo Deng, whose name translates to "bouncing pig," a Thai meatball dish, catapulted into internet meme status when images of her shared by the zoo went viral in September.

One of Moo Deng's Singaporean fans, Mr Kishore Kalaichalvan, a 26-year-old who works in a think tank, says he fell in love with the pygmy hippo in September, when the zoo held a public poll to decide on her name.

"That's why I refer to her as the people's princess, since people who managed to take part in voting chose the name for her," he adds. "Also, her looking distressed all the time is very relatable."

For many users, her squealing and biting antics showed an adorable mixture of impotent rage and endearing helplessness, especially when hangry.