Internet's Favorite Baby Hippo Just Learned an Impressive New Skill

People all over the world have fallen head-over-heels in love with a new baby pygmy hippopotamus in Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo outside of Bangkok. The not-so-tiny creature and her even bigger attitude were first introduced to the public back in July, but have become an internet sensation in recent days as people clamor for more videos of the sassy, adorable hippo.

It’s Moo Deng’s world. We’re just living in it.

Moo Deng’s name, which means “bouncy pork” in Thai, was chosen via a Facebook poll that received tens of thousands of votes and helped propel this little creature into the stratosphere of viral sensation. She’s popular in her hometown, too—appetite for viewings of the hippo enclosure at the zoo are at an all time high, and the crush around the exhibit has required zoo officials to limit viewing times to ten or fifteen minutes and construct improvements along the path outside the viewing area.

Related: Baby Hippo Adorably Refuses to Get out of the Pool at Wildlife Park

Moo Deng’s popularity is most clearly seen on the internet, however, especially given all her “sassy” behavior. Though toothless, she’s fond of biting her keepers, though her caretakers blame the behavior on the typical toddler teething.

All About the Pygmy Hippopotamus

Pygmy hippos are native to Western Africa, primarily Liberia. Their numbers in the wild are critically endangered, with some estimates saying that only about two or three thousand remain. They are popular residents of zoos all over the world due to their adorable appearance and apparent ease of breeding. (Aside from Moo Deng, another baby pygmy hippo was born at a Berlin Zoo this summer.)

Pygmy hippos are naturally reclusive and nocturnal, but you would not know it from watching Moo Deng’s antics.

In this video, Moo Deng learns to navigate the concrete slopes of her enclosure’s pool. Hey, it’s no “snot bubble video” but the fans are here for any and all content.

The Traits of the Pygmy Hippo

All hippopotamus species are semi-aquatic, with skin that is prone to cracking if it dries out. They prefer to spend most of their day submerged in water and come out at night to graze and feed. They eat a wide variety of plant matters, from ferns to shoots to fruits. Hippos secrete a type of moisture that gives their skin a pinkish tinge and has lubricating and sunscreen properties. Although it is called blood sweat it does not actually contain the animal’s blood.

Though it was long thought that hippos were related to pigs or even tapirs, and their name means “river horse” in Ancient Greek, the truth is that hippos are actually more closely related to whales than to fellow land mammals.

For now, the zoo is enjoying Moo Deng’s popularity and has even set up a live webcam chronicling her days. Meanwhile, hippo zookeepers and conservationists all over the world are hopeful that her fame will bring more attention to the plight suffered by too many of her fellow species still in the wild. Said an official at the Cincinnati Zoo, which shares its own popular young hippo, Fiona, “If this sparks interest in one person to grow up to be a conservationist and that makes a difference for them, that’s incredible.”

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