He is an icon, he is a legend, Moo Deng is a moment. While most hippos are hungry, Moo Deng is hungry thirsty thirsty.
Born in Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand, just an hour and a half from Bangkok, Moo Deng is a pygmy hippopotamus with a feisty attitude and an adorable, slippery body. In fact, she’s had the internet in her grip for the past three months, and for good reason. Look at those rosy cheeks!
Take a photo in time..haha 📸😅🤣🦛#bouncypork #Pygmy hippopotamus#hippo #Cute#Moodeng #khaokheowzoo#Khaokheowoopenzoo#Pygmyhippopotamus #Hippo#Khao Kheow Open Zoo #Chonburi pic.twitter.com/8hc6PwfdTg
— Khao Kheow Open Zoo (@KhaokheowZoo) October 20, 2024
The Internet is the Internet, and now there is plenty of Moo Deng fan art, merchandise, tributes, and yes, of course: latte art.
The best comes from Runo Kato, creator of Latte Pocket, with whom we spoke in an exclusive interview in 2022. Kato’s 3D foam work is world class, and her sculpted Moo Deng latte artwork does not disappoint.
🦛🥄#bouncypork https://t.co/fPudkKhID0 pic.twitter.com/wQAhtP8qyf
— Runa Kato @Latteart☕.◦*.＊. 🇯🇵 (@RunaPocket) September 14, 2024
Perfectly round cheeks can be nicely smoothed with Kato’s signature 3D touch latte, known as the art of “mochi mochi”. The similarity and resilience are spot on.
🦛💦#bouncypork https://t.co/VEAHGURwU7 pic.twitter.com/XyTr4J8CwE
— Runa Kato @Latteart☕.◦*.＊. 🇯🇵 (@RunaPocket) September 11, 2024
Here’s another 3D version by @Naoki_latte on Instagram. So lively and eager to pet, which is not recommended in real life unless you are a brave Moo Deng guardian.
Here’s a timelapse of Moo Deng’s famed pink cheeks and her screams while bathing by Naoki. This is truly an iconic image of our times.
It’s the slippery, biting world of Moo Deng that we all just live in.
