00:00Who would have thought that this simple yet very cutesy baby hippo would become worldwide famous?
00:18Here in the Philippines, it is also said to have a partner.
00:21Can you guess who is in this picture?
00:36Isn't it cute?
00:38It is none other than Moondeng, the latest internet star in Thailand.
00:44As you can see, a baby hippo is the latest online sensation that is full of internet memes, not just in Thailand, but all over the world.
00:55Moondeng Mania is on!
00:58I am a superstar who is considered a 3-month-old baby hippo named Moondeng.
01:03From sleeping,
01:05walking,
01:07showering,
01:09petting,
01:11to biting its caretaker.
01:15Every move of this curvy it girl is watched by the whole world.
01:22Currently, you can see Moondeng at the Khao Kyo Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand.
01:27Moondeng was born on July 10, 2024.
01:30And its name means in Thai, Bouncy Pork or Pig.
01:35The name Moondeng was chosen by a public poll on the FB page of the zoo where 20,000 people chose Moondeng.
01:47Moondeng Fever started when the zoo uploaded its first picture on their Instagram account.
01:54Moondeng was even more popular with its caretaker, Ataponandi.
02:00He uploaded his videos online.
02:01This video of him biting Ataponandi has 35.3 million views.
02:09Very cutesy, moist, sassy, and unbothered.
02:13That's how Moondeng was portrayed by its caretakers.
02:17That's why Moondeng has a lot of memes.
02:21Pygmy hippos are smaller than normal hippos.
02:25In fact, their body is half as big and their weight is only a quarter compared to common hippos.
02:33Pygmy hippos or Pygmy hippopotamus are native to West Africa.
02:38Pygmy hippos are different in size and weight from common hippos like African hippos.
02:44Both species have similar features.
02:48They have a big and wide mouth, cylindrical body,
02:52round body, and small and thick teeth.
02:56However, their eyes are different.
03:00Pygmy hippos' eyes are positioned in front of their face compared to normal hippos' eyes on the side.
03:08Moondeng started to become a viral sensation.
03:111,000 people visited the zoo just to pet him.
03:1581,786 people visited the Kaukyo Open Zoo from September 1 to 19.
03:26Because of its popularity, businessmen stopped coming.
03:30Because of different merchandise and Moondeng memorabilia were released.
03:36Our moisturized princess is showing off her face card.
03:40Woo! Ha!
03:42Do you want a water-fun-filled Sunday morning?
03:45I'd catch you.
03:47Because we'll catch shocking and entertaining stories fresh from the water.
03:52What are you waiting for?
03:54Let's dive into our amazing stories of the week.
03:57Do you have a ring on your lips?
04:00It's delicious, right?
04:02But if you get bitten by this...
04:03Or this...
04:08Is it still delicious?
04:13Water animals are different, right?
04:15Chula is not the only mysterious animal.
04:18They are also different, my friends.
04:24It's not a cat.
04:26It's not a mouse or a big lizard.
04:28That dark animal is a...
04:31Little hippo!
04:34So cute!
04:40And here in the Philippines,
04:42there's someone who wants to say hi to Moondeng.
04:45Meet Susu.
04:47You are so cute!
04:49But wait, Susu looks like she's busy eating her lunch.
04:52There! And she's even holding a water bottle.
04:55So, so sorry, Susu.
04:58Susu, at 14 years old,
05:00is a full-grown adult female pygmy hippo
05:03that lives in Avalon Zoo.
05:05Susu is the only female pygmy hippo in the Philippines.
05:09Susu grew up in a zoo.
05:12According to the management,
05:14they already know her favorite food.
05:16She arrived here when she was 2 years old.
05:20And now we see her right now eating her favorite food.
05:23She likes leaves, she likes grass,
05:26a piece of pumpkin.
05:30Because pygmy hippos are nocturnal,
05:33they visit their keepers more often at night.
05:38Susu is also very interactive with the guests.
05:41There! And it looks like she's asking for food again.
05:45Susu, finish your food first.
05:49Pygmy hippos have a smooth and thin top layer of skin.
05:53This helps them stay cool in the humid rainforest.
05:58But this thin skin can dehydrate them under the sun.
06:04Because of this, the pygmy hippo produces a fluid called blood sweat.
06:09This gives them a shiny or wet appearance.
06:13This also serves as their built-in sunscreen
06:17that protects their sensitive skin from sunburn.
06:21I wish it was all.
06:23But did you know that there are only a few pygmy hippos left in the world?
06:28According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN,
06:33classified as endangered,
06:36pygmy hippos are endangered.
06:39Their population is shrinking
06:42due to the destruction of their habitat
06:44caused by deforestation and hunting.
06:47But there are only around 2,500 pygmy hippos left in the world.
06:53The publicity itself is giving a chance
06:57to unknown species of animals,
07:02like the pygmy hippo,
07:04to promote the conservation effort for them.
07:08Because there are only a few of them,
07:11awareness needs to be aroused and triggered
07:15to the people who live in their area.
07:18Because if you instill awareness in them,
07:20their habitat will be more protected.
07:23In a world full of stress,
07:26we are reminded of the charm of pygmy hippos
07:28with simple pleasures.
07:30Because even a small, bouncy hippo like him
07:34is happy in every way.
07:36That's why, in return,
07:38we protect people like pygmy hippos.
07:41Aha!
07:50Hey!
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