Moo Deng's popularity: Its impact on wild pygmy hippo preservation examined
In the year 2024, the world witnessed a series of significant events. Russia invaded Ukraine, marking the third year of bombing in Gaza by Israel, and 10 million were displaced in Sudan due to war. Amidst these global conflicts, a small, endangered creature captured the hearts of millions, a baby pygmy hippo named Moo Deng.
Born on July 10 at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Bang Phra, Thailand, Moo Deng's playful and no-holds-barred attitude quickly made her a viral sensation. Her fame extended internationally, with appearances in a Saturday Night Live skit in the US and a Thai theme song. This sudden popularity, however, has been associated with some controversy.
The pygmy hippo (Choeropsis liberiensis) is an endangered species, with fewer than 2,500 surviving in the world. The IUCN SSC Hippo Specialist Group's veterinarian, Gabriella Flacke, states that a major threat to the species is the lack of financial and logistical resources for protecting their habitats.
The Khao Kheow Open Zoo, a member of WAZA, has leveraged Moo Deng's fame to promote conservation efforts. The zoo has offered interactive feeding sessions and showcased Moo Deng as a key attraction to raise awareness and support for wild pygmy hippos. This 'Moo Deng phenomenon' has boosted ecotourism and global interest in pygmy hippos, aiding conservation messaging and support for the species.
WAZA, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, has recently agreed on a new resolution aimed at actively and increasingly contributing to halting extinctions, reversing declines, restoring populations, and securing a future for threatened species. In line with this resolution, Khao Kheow Open Zoo is planning to help wild pygmy hippos through a potential partnership with IBREAM to purchase GPS collars for tracking their movements.
However, the impact of Moo Deng's fame on wild pygmy hippos is not yet clear. The Taï Hippo Project in Côte d'Ivoire and Fauna and Flora International (FFI) in Liberia, who are working to research and monitor pygmy hippos in their respective countries, have not yet seen material funding or support from the Moo Deng phenomenon.
Despite this, the sudden popularity of Moo Deng has raised some awareness among the public about the species' existence. FFI has reported an uptick in visitors to its pygmy hippo page, and Moo Deng's fame led to a doubling of zoo attendance at Khao Kheow Open Zoo. The zoo is also planning to copyright Moo Deng's cute image.
The year 2024 was also marked by multiple climate disasters around the globe. As the World Meteorological Organization declared it the warmest year on record, it serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for conservation efforts. The future of endangered species like the pygmy hippo depends on the collective action of zoos, conservation organisations, and the public.
WAZA CEO Zordan states that members are expected to make meaningful contributions to conservation of wild species and wild places as outlined in the organization's conservation strategy. The Moo Deng phenomenon, while controversial, offers a glimmer of hope for the future of the pygmy hippo and other endangered species. It remains to be seen whether this attention will translate into tangible support and conservation efforts for these creatures in the wild.
