Thailand’s baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng now has an official song in 4 languages
The Associated Press
Moo Deng eats grass in her enclosure at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo on November 11, 2024 in Pattaya, Thailand. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
BANGKOK (AP) — In case you can’t get enough of the little pygmy hippo Moo Deng from Thailand, there’s now an official song featuring the internet’s favorite baby animal — released in four languages for her global fans.
The upbeat 50-second song “Moodeng Moodeng,” available in Thai, English, Chinese and Japanese versions, features simple lyrics like “Moo Deng Moo Deng, boing boing boing/ Mommy mommy, play with me.” Its music video consists of short clips of the baby hippo bouncing, playing with her keeper or hanging out with her mom Jona.
The catchy number was produced and written by well-known Thai composer Mueanphet Ammara, and released by one of Thailand’s largest music companies, GMM Music.
Moo Deng — the name literally means “bouncy pork,” a type of meatball, in Thai — became a global phenomenon just a month after she was unveiled on Facebook by the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand’s southern Chon Buri province.
Fans say her name compliments her chaotic personality. Moo Deng likes to “deng,” or bounce, and her giddy bouncing has appeared all over social media in countless memes. Her image has been used by sports teams and businesses.
The hippo, now 4 months old, has drawn a huge amount of visitors to the zoo, which is around two-hour drive away from the capital Bangkok. The zoo estimated it has received 3,000 to 5,000 visitors a day on average in the past few months, and it’s selling clothes, bedding and other merchandise based on Moo Deng.
Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi has said the increasing income from Moo Deng will help its breeding programs for many endangered species like the pygmy hippopotamus, which is threatened by poaching and loss of habitat. The species is native to West Africa and there are only 2,000-3,000 of them left in the wild.
The zoo sits on 800 hectares (almost 2,000 acres) of land and is home to more than 2,000 animals.
All four versions of the Moo Deng song are available on YouTube and streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music.
Moo Deng splashes in a bucket of water in her enclosure at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo on November 11, 2024 in Pattaya, Thailand. Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo born on July 10, 2024, at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, became a global viral sensation, drawing thousands of visitors daily and boosting the local economy. Her popularity led the zoo to sell Moo Deng-themed merchandise, partner with Thai brands, and limit visitor time to just 5 minutes to reduce wait times. u0022Moo Deng,u0022 meaning u0022bouncy porku0022 in Thai, reflects the baby hippo’s feisty nature. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
Lisa Sunee, a four year old from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province visits Moo Deng with her family at her enclosure at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo on November 11, 2024 in Chonburi, Thailand. Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo born on July 10, 2024, at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, became a global viral sensation, drawing thousands of visitors daily and boosting the local economy. Her popularity led the zoo to sell Moo Deng-themed merchandise, partner with Thai brands, and limit visitor time to just 5 minutes to reduce wait times. u0022Moo Deng,u0022 meaning u0022bouncy porku0022 in Thai, reflects the baby hippo’s feisty nature. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
Moo Deng attacks a bucket in her enclosure at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo on November 11, 2024 in Pattaya, Thailand. Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo born on July 10, 2024, at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, became a global viral sensation, drawing thousands of visitors daily and boosting the local economy. Her popularity led the zoo to sell Moo Deng-themed merchandise, partner with Thai brands, and limit visitor time to just 5 minutes to reduce wait times. u0022Moo Deng,u0022 meaning u0022bouncy porku0022 in Thai, reflects the baby hippo’s feisty nature. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
Atthapon u0022Benzu0022 Nundee, the 31 year old zoo keeper that makes viral videos of Moo Deng, sprays Moo Deng and her mother, Jona, with water in their enclosure at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo on November 11, 2024 in Chonburi, Thailand. Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo born on July 10, 2024, at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, became a global viral sensation, drawing thousands of visitors daily and boosting the local economy. Her popularity led the zoo to sell Moo Deng-themed merchandise, partner with Thai brands, and limit visitor time to just 5 minutes to reduce wait times. u0022Moo Deng,u0022 meaning u0022bouncy porku0022 in Thai, reflects the baby hippo’s feisty nature. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
Moo Deng walks around her enclosure at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo on November 11, 2024 in Chonburi, Thailand. Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo born on July 10, 2024, at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, became a global viral sensation, drawing thousands of visitors daily and boosting the local economy. Her popularity led the zoo to sell Moo Deng-themed merchandise, partner with Thai brands, and limit visitor time to just 5 minutes to reduce wait times. u0022Moo Deng,u0022 meaning u0022bouncy porku0022 in Thai, reflects the baby hippo’s feisty nature. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)