Viral “Dark Truth” About Thailand’s Moo Deng Sparks Heated Debate
If you have been online in the last few weeks, you have likely seen something about Moo Deng.
Moo Deng is a baby pygmy hippo living at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand who has become an internet sensation. Clips of the adorable hippo often go viral, and netizens worldwide enjoy the memes made from her reactions to different things happening in her environment.
For the next hour this is strictly a Moo Deng fan account.
Since we can’t think about anything else, join us as we do a deep dive on the wonder that are Pygmy Hippos. pic.twitter.com/4X7zjWXNuY
— Encyclopedia Britannica (@Britannica) September 13, 2024
😛😛😛 pic.twitter.com/gEoebIvgHQ
— สวนสัตว์เปิดเขาเขียว Khao Kheow Open Zoo (@kkopzoo) September 15, 2024
Meme Moo Deng #หมูเด้ง #khaokheowzoo pic.twitter.com/IvGNEt6VLx
— สวนสัตว์เปิดเขาเขียว Khao Kheow Open Zoo (@kkopzoo) September 17, 2024
With worldwide attention placed on Moo Deng, it is unsurprising that some have chimed in on the animal’s treatment, including a clip that has gone viral on X.
In a TikTok video, a woman named Jennifer (@JenniferWVegan) shares what she calls a “dark truth” about Moo Deng’s situation. She shares her opinion about animals being bred in captivity for “social media views” and suggests that more money be spent conserving wildlife in their habitats.
She follows up by saying that the conditions at the zoo are not ideal for Moo Deng or her months and urges individuals not to visit zoos. A reposting earned over 4 million views.
แล้วอะไรเสร่อๆแบบนี้มันต้องเป็นอิขาวตลอด คือรีเสิร์ชก่อนมั้ยในเม้นมีแต่คนไปอธิบาย+ให้ข้อมูล มันก็เถียงกุจะบ้าตาย pic.twitter.com/FbrWnQ4JPc
— I drink till im drunk (@drarry_175) September 16, 2024
Pygmy hippos are an endangered species due to their habitats being destroyed and are illegally hunted in the wild.
There is some truth to her statement—though it is not related to the zoo’s treatment of the animal. Recently, Khao Kheow Open Zoo had to issue a warning to visitors hoping to record their own viral moment of Moo Deng by harassing her and threatening legal action.
As for the other ideas in the video, netizens have presented opposing facts to negate them.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo is also a research facility that actively participates in efforts to conserve multiple species through captive breeding and monitoring in their natural habitats. The zoo works with other conservation organizations worldwide, including the Smithsonian National Zoo Park Conservation & Research Center.
Netizens shared these points and others from a background in conservation to negate the things said in the viral video.
Wrong. Khao Kheow Zoo runs breeding programs for endangered species like the clouded leopard and pygmy hippos. They also focus on rehabilitation, reintroduction, conservation research, and public education to further support wildlife preservation. This lady needs to stop talking. https://t.co/pRlv8rPmlo
— yammi (@sighyam) September 17, 2024
The sad part is so many people think this shit about zoos when nearly every accredited zoo like the one Moo Deng was born at also doubles with local and global research/conservation for endangered species while also having breeding programs with aims at reintroduction in the wild https://t.co/y6yrea5V9v
— Liv //OLYMPICS ERA…AGAIN 😭 (@octobersoo) September 17, 2024
Does she even know that all the money that the zoo uses to take care of their animals mainly comes from tourists, meaning the more the tourists go to the zoo and the better well-being the animals are going to get https://t.co/IyjgSUnLes
— TanTan (@remotta25409) September 18, 2024