Fans of Moo Deng – a baby hippo who has taken the internet by storm – claim she is actually ‘mean’ and will become ‘dangerous’ as she grows older.
Moo Deng – or ‘jumpy pork’ – is a two-month-old pygmy hippopotamus that lives at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Si Racha, Thailand.
The calf has gained worldwide attention in recent weeks after her playful antics and energetic energy made her an unlikely internet sensation.
A recent one clamp uploaded by Chonburi Province Zoo staff and reposted by @ask_aubry on
The footage shows Moo Deng being hosed down by a male zookeeper in her enclosure, while her mother stands just a meter away.
Baby hippo Moo Deng has been called ‘feisty’ and ‘mean’ by fans after a video of her playfully biting a handler goes viral
Moo Deng appears to react strongly when sprayed with water – and retaliates by charging at her handler and biting his leg.
The staff member laughs as he films content on his phone, before attempting to pull the slippery calf away – initially with little success.
Moo Deng is relentless as she pulls back for another bite, this time aiming for the handler’s back as he turns his body away from the calf’s sharp, developing teeth.
Finally, the handler forces the baby hippo to retreat into nearby trees after lightly tapping her rear end with his hand.
More than 480 viewers flocked to the comments to share their thoughts on the ‘mean’ hippo – including individuals who expressed concern about both the animal and the handler’s reactions.
One wrote, “Moo Deng is quite mean,” while another said, “Moo is mean… I still think she’s super cute.”
Another commented: ‘I just love these little hippos and their cute little bites,’ while a fourth said: ‘So spicy.’
Meanwhile, a number of viewers condemned both the keeper and the zoo for doing little to prevent Moo Deng from developing an “aggressive biting habit.”
Moo Deng appears to react strongly when sprayed with water – and retaliates by charging at her handler and biting his leg
More than 480 viewers flocked to the comments to share their thoughts on the ‘mean’ hippo – including those who expressed concern about both the animal and the handler’s reactions
One person wrote: ‘The handler encourages the biting behavior for photos and social media influence lol, wait until he gets bigger.’
A second said: ‘This little one has been seen in several videos playing rough, like he’s biting the trainer. I wonder if it’s a good thing that they take care of the little one, because maybe he’ll still be the same when he grows up. It would be very dangerous.’
Another warned: ‘It looks cute but it will be more dangerous.’
It comes as a new trend in makeup has young people wanting to look more hippo-like as they strive to capture the glow of the baby pygmy hippo, Moo Deng.
Internet makeup moguls are eagerly sweeping their cheeks with vibrant pink and charcoal gray as they attempt to recapture the swampy look of the popular hippo.
