A two-month-old pygmy hippo has become an internet sensation, doubling the number of visitors to his zoo in Thailand.
But some cruel zoo visitors are now filming themselves abusing Moo Deng, or jumping pig, with one even pouring water on her to wake her up.
Other videos on social media show visitors throwing objects at the baby hippo at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, located about 100 kilometers southeast of Bangkok.
The videos sparked outrage online and zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi also condemned the behavior.
He warned that those involved could face legal consequences, adding that the treatment was not only “cruel but dangerous.”
Moo Deng has become an internet sensation, doubling the number of visitors to his zoo in Thailand.
Moo Deng lies on the ground at Khao Kheow Open Zoo after becoming a viral sensation
A screenshot from a video on social media showing a visitor pouring water on the baby hippo.
Mr Narongwit said the zoo has installed CCTV cameras and visitors should try to visit Moo Deng when she is awake.
Since Moo Deng was born in July, he has gone viral online with his diminutive figure and chubby proportions, inspiring a fervent following.
Even the Royal Thai Embassy featured the baby hippo on its social media channels.
Fans have made artwork and cakes in her image and one cosmetics chain is also telling customers to “wear their blush like a baby hippo”.
Moo Deng’s fame began when zookeepers at Khao Kheow Open Zoo started posting videos of her on their TikTok account, which now has 2.5 million followers.
She now has dozens of Instagram and Facebook pages documenting her daily life on social media.
Since Moo Deng was born in July, he has gone viral online with his diminutive figure and chubby proportions, inspiring a fervent following.
A social media account made an artistic representation of Jesus Christ holding her
A zoo worker plays with Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo
Atthapon Nundee, 31, a zookeeper at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, was quoted as saying by The Guardian: ‘The moment I saw Moo-Deng being born, I set out to make her famous, but I never expected it would spread overseas.
“I thought I might be famous in Thailand, but not internationally.”
“They call her ‘jumping’ and she’s quite ‘jumping’ too,” she added.
Mr Nundee explained that Moo Deng spends most of his time sleeping and only drinks his mother’s milk.
He said he already weighs 20 kilos and could start eating grass next month.
Pygmy hippos, also known as dwarf hippos, are native to West Africa.
They are currently classified as endangered and experts believe there are fewer than 3,000 left in the wild.
Pygmy hippos, also known as dwarf hippos, are native to West Africa.
Moo Den walks with his mother Jona, 25, at Khao Kheow Open Zoo
Moo Deng playfully bites zookeeper’s leg after becoming internet sensation