Current:Home > reviewsMoo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked. -AssetLink
Moo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked.
View
Date:2025-04-13 02:13:18
A wet, chubby baby hippopotamus has cast her "vote" in on the U.S. presidential election.
Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, was presented with two fruit baskets made to look like cakes this week, one with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris' name and the other with Republican candidate Donald Trump's name.
In a video shared by Khao Kheow Open Zoo on X, both cakes are placed in Moo Deng's pen, surrounded by a crowd of eager guests. The video depicts Moo Deng slowly walking up to her fruit basket of choice and before long, she's munching and crunching on the Trump cake.
Moo Deng's mother, on the other hand, chose the fruit bearing Harris' name.
Who is Moo Deng?
Nearly four months old, Moo Deng has taken social media by storm during her short time on earth. Videos and photos of the baby hippo yelling at her zoo keepers, resting in a water bucket and enjoying a bath have garnered millions of views this summer. And Khao Kheow Open Zoo boasts more than 132,000 followers on X.
Born on July 10, Moo Deng's name means "bouncing pig" in Thai. Her mother is Jona, 25, and her father is Tony, 24. She has two siblings, Pork Stew and Sweet Pork. Moo Deng is also the granddaughter of Thailand's oldest hippo, Malee, who is 59 years old, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.
Pygmy hippos, often thought of as the smaller cousin, are about half the size of common hippos, weighting less than one-fourth of a full-sized common hippo, according to the Pygmy Hippo Foundation. Pygmies are native to West Africa and their average life expectancy is 27 years.
In 2016, pygmy hippos were deemed an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A 1993 survey conducted by IUCN found that only about 2,000-3,000 pygmies remained worldwide.
A new pygmy on the block? Meet Haggis.
Moo Deng is no longer the only pygmy hippo looking for social media fame.
On Oct. 30, a female pygmy calf named Haggis was born at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's Edinburgh Zoo to parents Otto and Gloria, according to a news release shared by the institution.
“While Thailand’s Moo Deng has become a viral global icon, it is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare," Jonny Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said in the release. "It is great to have our own little ambassador right here in Edinburgh to connect with our visitors and help raise awareness of the challenges the species face in the wild.”
Appleyard added that Haggis is "doing really well" and her personality is already starting to shine.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Audit: California risked millions in homelessness funds due to poor anti-fraud protections
- These are the worst cities in America for bedbugs, according to pest control company Orkin
- America is hitting peak 65 in 2024 as record number of boomers reach retirement age. Here's what to know.
- Wendy's adds breakfast burrito to morning menu
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Outgoing North Dakota Gov. Burgum sees more to do for the ‘underestimated’ state
- Sammy Hagar's multi-million-dollar Ferrari LaFerrari auction is on hold. Here's why
- Lawsuit says Minnesota jail workers ignored pleas of man before he died of perforated bowel
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Dueling political factions demonstrate in Venezuela’s capital as presidential election race heats up
Ranking
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Florida man arrested after pregnant woman said she was dragged through streets
- Michigan woman sentenced to life in prison in starvation death of son
- Victor Wembanyama shows glimpses of Spurs' future at halfway point of rookie season
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Ancient Megalodon and great white sharks might not be that similar, study finds
- Kim Kardashian becomes Balenciaga's brand ambassador two years after fashion label's controversy
- 911 calls show fears of residents and friends after a young man got shot entering the wrong home
Recommendation
Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
Tyler Bass deactivates social media after missed kick; Bills Mafia donates to cat shelter to show support
Why am I always tired? Here's what a sleep expert says about why you may be exhausted.
Sammy Hagar's multi-million-dollar Ferrari LaFerrari auction is on hold. Here's why
NCAA hits former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh with suspension, show-cause for recruiting violations
Arkansas abortion ban may be scaled back, if group can collect enough signatures
Retired Georgia mascot Uga X dies. 'Que' the bulldog repped two national champion teams.
Emily Blunt, America Ferrera and More Can Officially Call Themselves First-Time Oscar Nominees