Moo Deng is back in the spotlight — but not for the heartwarming reasons as before.
Conservationist Siranudh Scott brought attention back on to the viral pet after calling the pygmy hippo’s living situation “sad” on social media, showing a photo of fecal matter in the habitat.
“The other day I saw pictures of the current condition of Moo Deng’s cage/habitat/pool,” Scott wrote in a translated X post on Feb. 15.
“It’s really sad to see it like this. Even though he’s generated so much income, in the end, he’s just a business in the eyes of the people around him,”
Scott wrote a follow-up posting clarifying his words, saying that he was “not criticizing the Moo Deng caretakers or the animals themselves” and didn’t “want anyone to misunderstand.”
“I’m trying to convey that animals that are recognized worldwide and bring fame to the country should have a quality of life, space, a safe environment, and animal companions that are commensurate with the value they bring to us,” he explained.
But that didn’t stop fans from making their own assumptions and taking an interest in their beloved Moo Deng.
When fans online started to express their concern, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand, released a statement addressing it.
“Khao Kheow Open Zoo would like to express its gratitude for all the concerns and suggestions from fans worldwide,” the zoo said in a statement, originally written in Thai, on Feb. 16.
They addressed the “online discussions regarding the cleanliness and living conditions” of the social media star.
The zoo insisted that the 1-year-old hippo is “being cared for according to international standards,” they shared in the translated statement.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo explained that “the images circulating on social media are likely animal feces excreted during the day, which is normal behavior for hippos who typically defecate in water or on land to ‘mark their territory.’ “
“It is confirmed that the keeper team cleans up and removes the animal feces every morning regularly, in accordance with international animal welfare standards (WAZA),” the zoo continued.
The zoo shared that Moo Deng’s muddy surroundings are intentional and it’s vital for pygmy hippos’ skin as they require high levels of moisture.
“Providing an environment with soil, mud, and aquatic plants is a biologically sound design to allow the animals to exhibit instinctive behaviors and maintain healthy skin, and is not the result of neglect,” the zoo said.
“We reaffirm our commitment to the happiness and health of our animals, and clarify that the enclosure conditions reflect their natural behavior. We are also moving forward with the ‘Hippo Village’ project to elevate animal welfare towards sustainability.”
The “Hippo Village” 4-acre habitat expansion is already in the works and will “accommodate six pygmy hippos and seven great hippos, providing them with spacious and ecologically suitable living conditions.”
The zoo noted that the long-term expansion project will be done with caution to ensure that the construction doesn’t disrupt the hippos or cause them any distress.
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