Moo Deng, the chubby, pint-sized hippo with an irresistibly cute face, is proving to be the ultimate superstar at a zoo in Thailand. Who knew a rotund little hippo could draw such a crowd?
According to the Bangkok Post (October 14, 2024), over 30,000 people flocked to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri during the recent weekend holidays. What’s the secret sauce behind this zoo’s sudden surge in popularity? Well, besides Moo Deng, the zoo offered free admission to kids under 12 and adults over 60. Yep, free stuff + a cute animal = a recipe for chaos.
The free entry was part of a tribute to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, whose passing is commemorated annually on October 13.
Before the world fell head over heels for this chunky little hippo, the zoo would typically see around 600-700 visitors a day. But on Saturday? A whopping 10,000 visitors poured in to catch a glimpse of Moo Deng and the other animals strutting their stuff at the zoo.
This massive crowd surge, naturally, caused long lines and some serious traffic jams, with cars inching along for several kilometers from the zoo entrance. Sounds fun, right?
By 9 AM on Sunday, traffic was backed up by a whopping 3 kilometers, with eager visitors from all over the country arriving en masse to meet the internet’s latest animal sensation.
As if the Moo Deng fever wasn’t enough, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo took things up a notch by announcing on social media that limited edition Moo Deng t-shirts would be available for purchase at the zoo. But there’s a catch—no online sales. If you want to rock that Moo Deng gear, you’ve got to show up in person and brave the hippo-loving crowd!