Current:Home > InvestMoo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked. -Legacy Build Solutions
Moo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked.
View
Date:2025-04-20 01:52:11
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 gcross@gannett.com.
veryGood! (2)
Related
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Why Tom Selleck Was Frustrated Amid Blue Bloods Coming to an End
- Search for missing 22-year-old Yellowstone employee scaled back to recovery mission
- Opinion: KhaDarel Hodge is perfect hero for Falcons in another odds-defying finish
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- You like that?!? Falcons win chaotic OT TNF game. Plus, your NFL Week 5 preview 🏈
- Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's NSFW Halloween Decorations Need to Be Seen to Be Believed
- Katie Meyer's parents, Stanford at odds over missing evidence in wrongful death lawsuit
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- MIami, Mississippi on upset alert? Bold predictions for Week 6 in college football
Ranking
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket completes second successful launch
- Michigan offense finds life with QB change, crumbles late in 27-17 loss at Washington
- Minnesota Lynx cruise to Game 3 win vs. Connecticut Sun, close in on WNBA Finals
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Fact Checking the Pennsylvania Senate Candidates’ Debate Claims on Energy
- MLB playoff predictions: Who is the World Series favorite? Our expert picks.
- The Princess Diaries 3 Is Officially in the Works—And No, We Will Not Shut Up
Recommendation
'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
What’s next for oil and gas prices as Middle East tensions heat up?
North Carolina native Eric Church releases Hurricane Helene benefit song 'Darkest Hour'
Who plays on Sunday Night Football? Breaking down Week 5 matchup
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw to miss entire 2024 postseason with injury
Judge denies an order sought by a Black student who was punished over his hair
Some children tied to NY nurse’s fake vaccine scheme are barred from school