In Chonburi, Thailand, at Khao Kheow Open Zoo a female dwarf hippopotamus named “Moo Deng” lies on the ground. Born on July 10, 2024, to a 25-year-old mother Jona and a 24-year-old father Tony, the bouncy pig is the 7th animal of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo from her parents. Named “Moo Deng,” which means “Pork Bouncy,” the new star of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, a female dwarf hippopotamus, was born on June 10.
In response to her arrival, the zoo has installed CCTV cameras around the hippo’s habitat to monitor visitors and ensure her safety. The zoo officials emphasized the need to protect these animals and maintain a safe and comfortable environment, and added that they may consider legal action against uncooperative visitors. Native to western Africa, pygmy hippos are listed as an endangered species, and there are reports indicating that only about 2,000 remain in the wild, primarily in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast, according to the UK-based Pygmy Hippo Foundation.
Unlike the larger and more well-known common hippopotamus, the pygmy hippo is more adapted to a terrestrial lifestyle and spends less time in water. It is about half the height of a common hippo and weighs between 400 to 600 pounds (180 to 270 kg). Pygmy hippos are primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves, ferns, fruits, and roots.
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