Bangkok: A Thai man has been jailed after he was caught sneaking into the enclosure of Moo Deng, the irresistibly cute pygmy hippo who has become a social media sensation. A video of the incident, which is now all over social media, shows a man dressed up approaching the pygmy hippo and his mother, Jona, taking pictures.
The man reportedly entered the enclosure on Tuesday evening (local time) when the keeper was away and there were no other visitors around, Khao Kheow Open Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoy told The Associated Press.
One post on social media claimed the man was a Thai content creator.
What the video showed
The man remained in the zoo’s enclosure for a minute or two before staff noticed him, Narongwit said, adding that he did not try to flee until the zoo called the police.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo, which is about 100 kilometers (60 mi) southeast of Bangkok, covers 800 hectares (almost 2,000 acres) of land and is home to more than 2,000 animals.
How did Moo Deng go viral?
Moo Deng rose to fame shortly after she was born in 2024. Courtesy? Thanks in large part to a zookeeper who shared adorable pictures and videos of the baby hippopotamus on social media.
Since then, Moo Den has attracted large crowds from Thailand and beyond – who wanted to witness her magic in person and capture photos and videos of her cute moments for themselves.
Man arrested released on bail
Police initially charged the man with trespassing, but the investigation is still ongoing and Narongwit said the zoo intends to take all available legal action. Police have not identified the suspect.
The man who was arrested has now been released on bail, zoo director Narongwit said. He said that Moo Deng and Jona were safe because the man didn’t try to touch them.
A statement posted Tuesday on the zoo’s official Facebook page said both animals appeared slightly startled by the encounter and will be closely monitored by a veterinarian.
The zoo also urged visitors to “strictly follow all staff rules and instructions for the safety of themselves and the wildlife.”
