Mu Deng, the hippopotamus in Thailand who recently became famous on the Internet, is drawing unexpectedly large crowds to the zoo where she lives, which is located two hours away from the capital Bangkok.
Zoo visitors line up for Mu Deng
The cute baby, whose name means lively pig in Thai, has gained millions of fans on social media, who watch his adorable, clumsy antics, such as his attempt to bite his carer even though he still has no teeth.
“Normally on weekdays and in the rainy season – which is a period of reduced traffic – we have about 800 visitors a day,” said Narungwit Chodchoi, the director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, south of Bangkok.
Mu Deng has become a superstar.
Visitor numbers skyrocketed
But now the zoo has 3,000 to 4,000 visitors on weekdays and 20,000 on the weekend, he noted, most of whom line up to see Mu Deng.
“Mu Deng means for us better organization so that all visitors can see it,” he added.
This morning, the rosy-cheeked hippo sat happily next to a bowl of vegetables and other snacks.
The baby hippo and his mom are eating and enjoying their bath.
“I left my home in Bangkok at 06:30 this morning just to come see Mu Deng,” said 45-year-old Ekaphak Mahasawad. “I only came here to see her.”
The cute hippo’s grandmother, Mali, recently celebrated her 59th birthday and is Thailand’s oldest hippo.
Source: RES-MPE
