Meet Moo Deng

Every move she makes is closely watched. Each new photo taken of her is widely discussed. Her dewy glow inspires fan art and makeup tutorials. Moo Deng, of Thailand, is not your typical celebrity. But she’s certainly being treated like one.

Moo Deng is a two-month-old pygmy hippopotamus at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, in Chonburi Province. She has wriggled her way into the hearts of millions. Social-media users can’t get enough of her happy face—whether she’s being sprayed with water, being carried by zookeepers, or simply lying on the ground.

Born on July 10, Moo Deng was unveiled to the public on July 25. Her name roughly translates to “bouncy pig” or “pork patty.” It was chosen in a vote held by the zoo.

Since then, well aware of her star power, Moo Deng’s keepers have shared photos, videos, and memes of the baby hippo. As her popularity climbed, the zoo’s social-media accounts offered more updates for her fans all over the world.

Moo Deng—who is almost always eating, sleeping, or being dramatic—has been hailed as a “lifestyle icon.” She has become the subject of fan art and forthcoming merch from the zoo. The Thai Embassy in Tokyo has embraced her. So has makeup company Sephora Thailand, which shared recommendations for blushes to mimic the baby hippo’s rosy cheeks. A Bangkok cafe whipped up cakes in the shape of Moo Deng, who also just got her own Wikipedia page.

Pygmy hippos mature to about 500 pounds. Native to West Africa, pygmy hippos are an endangered species. There are only about 2,000 of them left in the wild.

Since Moo Deng went viral, visitors to Khao Kheow Open Zoo have more than doubled. The zoo’s director, Narongwit Chodchoi, says the zoo has installed surveillance cameras to make sure visitors are cooperating with zoo rules. “We must protect these animals and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable environment,” he says.