Thailand’s adorable pygmy hippo Moo Deng has the kind of face that launches a thousand memes

Associated Press

CHONBURI, Thailand (AP) — Only a month after the adorable baby hippo Moo Deng was unveiled on Facebook, her fame became unstoppable both domestically and internationally. Zookeeper Atthapon Nundee of Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo has been posting cute moments of the animals in his care for about five years. He never imagined the zoo’s newborn pygmy hippo would become an internet megastar within weeks. Moo Deng, which literally means “bouncy pork” in Thai, is a type of meatball. The name was chosen by fans via a poll on social media. Already, Moo Deng has drawn thousands of adoring visitors to the zoo. With her fame, the zoo director said they have started the process of copyrighting and trademarking to bring in money to improve the lives of other animals there.