Five-minute limit set on Moo Deng visits
Crowds throng Chon Buri zoo to see baby hippo that has conquered the internet
Fans of Moo Deng, the world’s most famous baby hippo, will have a maximum of five minutes to see her, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo said on Saturday, as thousands thronged the site in Chon Buri province.
Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi said the already viral popularity of the two-month-old female pygmy hippo has only grown since she was featured in Time magazine and numerous other major international media platforms.
Traffic to the zoo located about 35km northeast of Pattaya was backed up by two hours on Saturday morning, as over 12,000 people arrived. In response, zoo staff imposed a five-minute viewing limit, with groups capped at 30 to 50 people at a time to manage the crowds.
The number of visitors to the zoo has been rising on weekdays and weekends, said Mr Narongwit.
The weekday average is now between 700 and 800 people a day, while weekend numbers more than doubled to between 6,000 and 7,000 a day, he said.
A long line of vehicles stretches in front of the zoo, located about 35km northeast of Pattaya, as visitors wait for a chance to see Moo Deng.
To accommodate those who have already seen Moo Deng and encourage them to see more animals, a pathway has been set up leading to other attractions, including capybaras, elephants and penguins.
The 2,000-acre facility is also preparing to launch a 24-hour livestream of its celebrity via its Zoodio live streaming channel, with the feed expected to begin next week. That sort of blanket coverage calls to mind the heyday of the TrueVisions Panda Channel starring Lin Ping more than a decade ago.
Funds generated from the sale of Moo Deng merchandise will be used to improve the zoo’s habitats.
Moo Deng enjoys a moment in the water alongside her mother in their enclosure.
While the influx of visitors has benefited the zoo and nearby communities economically, the zoo is more concerned about the safety of visitors and animals, Mr Narongwit said.
Moo Deng’s enclosure is now monitored by security cameras, while signs in three languages — Thai, Chinese and English — warn visitors against acts that might violate the anti-animal cruelty law.
Time on Friday published a lengthy tribute to Moo Deng, saying she had captured the hearts of millions of internet users who had watched videos of her playful nature when being sprayed with water, carried by zookeepers or simply relaxing in the sun.
According to advice posted online, the best time to catch Moo Deng in action is in the morning between 8.30am and 9.30am, when keepers clean her enclosure and feed her. From 10am until midday is another good time to see her lying down and enjoying her time in the water.
Aphisamai Saengphakdi, from Don Muang district in Bangkok, said she and her children had made a 90-minute trip from Bangkok just to see Moo Deng.
She said the baby hippo was just as adorable as she appeared in social media posts, which had prompted her and the youngsters to visit the zoo.
Moo Deng, whose name means “bouncy pig” in Thai, was born on June 10 to pygmy hippo parents Jona, 25, and Tony, 24.
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Source – Bangkok News
