Current:Home > MarketsMoo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked. -WealthRise Academy
Moo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked.
Indexbit View
Date:2025-04-07 00:10:41
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 [email protected].
veryGood! (34)
Related
- What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
- Broccoli hair is here to stay: Why teenage boys are serving floret looks.
- US confirms role in identifying alleged terrorist plot for Taylor Swift shows
- Olympic Gymnast Gabby Douglas Speaks Out on Constantly Being Bullied Amid Simone Biles Comparisons
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- PHOTO COLLECTION: AP Top Photos of the Day Friday August 9, 2024
- Giant pandas go on display at San Diego Zoo: Gov. Newsom says 'It’s panda-mania'
- Julianne Hough reveals how Hayley Erbert's 'tragic' health scare affected their family
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Proof Jessica Biel Remains Justin Timberlake’s Biggest Fan
Ranking
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- What is Angelman syndrome? Genetic disorder inspires Colin Farrell to start foundation
- US women have won more medals than all of Australia, France and almost everybody else
- Debby finally moves out of the US, though risk from flooded rivers remains
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Illinois sheriff retiring after deputy he hired was charged with murder for shooting Sonya Massey
- Sentence overturned in border agent’s killing that exposed ‘Fast and Furious’ sting
- Justin Baldoni Details Working With Complex Personalities on It Ends With Us
Recommendation
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
USA's Rose Zhang, Nelly Korda climb into contention entering final round of Olympic golf
Where do you live? That’s a complicated question for a California town with no street addresses
Horoscopes Today, August 8, 2024
Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
Susan Wojcicki, Former YouTube CEO, Dead at 56 After Cancer Battle
USA's Rose Zhang, Nelly Korda climb into contention entering final round of Olympic golf
Shawn Mendes Reveals He Was About to Be a Father in New Single