Current:Home > ContactMoo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked. -Elevate Capital Network
Moo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked.
View
Date:2025-04-14 14:12:41
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! (9744)
Related
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Lawmaker seeks to reverse Nebraska governor’s rejection of federal child food funding
- Federal investigators examining collapsed Boise airplane hangar that killed 3
- Ground beef prices are up, shrimp prices are down. How to save on a Super Bowl party.
- The GOP and Kansas’ Democratic governor ousted targeted lawmakers in the state’s primary
- Kelly Clarkson opens up about diagnosis that led to weight loss: 'I wasn't shocked'
- US founder of Haiti orphanage who is accused of sexual abuse will remain behind bars for now
- NCAA recorded nearly $1.3 billion in revenue in 2023, putting net assets at $565 million
- American news website Axios laying off dozens of employees
- Ellen Gilchrist, 1984 National Book Award winner for ‘Victory Over Japan,’ dies at 88
Ranking
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Child’s body found in Colorado storage unit. Investigators want to make sure 2 other kids are safe
- House approves expansion for the Child Tax Credit. Here's who could benefit.
- US center’s tropical storm forecasts are going inland, where damage can outstrip coasts
- Report: Lauri Markkanen signs 5-year, $238 million extension with Utah Jazz
- Deal on wartime aid and border security stalls in Congress as time runs short to bolster Ukraine
- Taylor Swift's Travis Kelce-themed jewelry is surprisingly affordable. Here's where to buy
- Here's why conspiracy theories about Taylor Swift and the Super Bowl are spreading
Recommendation
Taylor Swift Cancels Austria Concerts After Confirmation of Planned Terrorist Attack
What to know as Republicans governors consider sending more National Guard to the Texas border
Pilot error likely caused the helicopter crash that killed 2 officers, report says
Authorities capture man accused of taking gun from scene of fatal Philadelphia police shooting
Beware of giant spiders: Thousands of tarantulas to emerge in 3 states for mating season
US founder of Haiti orphanage who is accused of sexual abuse will remain behind bars for now
Who could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes? 5 potential candidates for 2025
Camp Lejeune water contamination tied to range of cancers, CDC study finds