Moo Deng became a meme-worthy internet sensation after zookeeper Atthapon Nundee posted her videos of bathing, playfully biting, and sleeping. Her snot bubbles have a separate fan base.

Checking Moo Deng's 24/7 live stream will also show that she is only handled for short periods of time each day when her keeper enters the enclosure to feed her mom, defenders pointed out.

Today Moo Deng is the most famous animal on the planet — for now. Nearly 175 years before Moo Deng took the internet by storm, another exotic hippo helped save the world’s first modern zoo.

Two-month-old baby hippo Moo Deng and her mother Jona are seen at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. Sakchai Lalit/Associated Press ...

Moo Deng—whose name roughly translates to "bouncy pig—is a pygmy hippo from the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand. Since her birth in July, she has doubled visitors to the zoo.

Thousands celebrate baby hippo Moo Deng's first birthday at Thailand zoo The pygmy hippo, whose Thai name translates to “bouncy pork,” became a viral sensation shortly after she was born in 2024.

Moo Deng (right) with mother Jona eats fruit presented for her first birthday celebration at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand on Thursday.

Moo Deng, the world’s favorite pygmy hippo, just turned 1, and thousands of fans from across the globe traveled to Thailand to celebrate with her.

“Makeup inspired by the legend herself, Moo Deng,” said cosmetics content creator, Mei Pang, alerting her over 3.9 million TikTok followers of beauty’s wildest new trend.

Moo Deng’s stardom Moo Deng soared to stardom shortly after she was born, largely thanks to her keeper Atthapon Nundee who shared adorable pictures and videos of the baby hippo on social media.

The popularity of Moo Deng has caused the zoo to see weekend attendance double — from 3,000 closer to 7,000, according to Thai PBS World. There are only about 3,000 of the endangered species left.