The Thai zoo home to baby hippo and internet sensation Moo Deng is patenting the pygmy

CHONBURI, Thailand -- Only a month after Thailand's adorable baby hippo Moo Deng was unveiled on Facebook, her fame became unstoppable both domestically and internationally.Zookeeper Atthapon Nundee has been posting cute moments of the animals in his care for about five years.

He never imagined Khao Kheow Open Zoo's newborn pygmy hippo would become an internet megastar within weeks.Cars started lining up outside the zoo well before it opened Thursday.Visitors traveled from near and far for a chance to see the pudgy, expressive 2-month-old in person at the zoo about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Bangkok.

The pit where Moo Deng lives with her mom, Jona, was packed almost immediately, with people cooing and cheering every time the pink-cheeked baby animal made skittish movements.“It was beyond expectation,” Atthapon told The Associated Press.“I wanted people to know her.

I wanted a lot of people to visit her, or watch her online, or leave fun comments.I never would’ve thought (of this).”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, and it matches her other siblings: Moo Toon (stewed pork) and Moo Waan (sweet pork).There is also a common hippo at the zoo named Kha Moo (stewed pork leg).“She’s such a little lump.

I want to ball her up and swallow her whole!” said Moo Deng fan Areeya Sripanya while visiting the zoo Thursday.Already, Moo Deng has been made into memes.Artists are drawing cartoons based on her.

Social media platform X even featured her in its official account’s post.With all that fame, zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi said they have begun patenting and trademarking “Moo Deng the hippo” to prevent the animal from being commercialized by anyone else."After we do this, we will have more income to support activities that will make the animals’ lives better,” he said.“The benefits we get will return to the zoo to improve the life ...