Moo Deng The Baby Hippo Has Already Brought In RM1.5 Million For Thai Zoo
An influx in visitors.
By Tamara Jayne — 24 Sep 2024, 03:13 PM
In just three weeks, Moo Deng has helped Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand earn more than THB12 million (RM1.5 million)
The two-month-old pygmy hippopotamus has been on livestreams after becoming an Internet sensation with her quirky expressions and playful character, attracting fans from all over the world.
According to Bangkok Post, the zoo saw a surge in ticket sales between 1 September and 19 September, bringing in about THB12 million (RM1.5 million) as visitors flocked to see the baby hippo.
Sales are expected to rise further, with projections reaching THB200 million (RM25 million) as up to a million visitors are anticipated in the coming days.
Moo Deng's popularity has even sparked a line of merchandise, including hippo-printed pants and T-shirts set to launch at the zoo this week.
The zoo's director, Narongwit Chodchoy, said Moo Deng will draw in more visitors, including from countries like Japan, China, and South Korea
The zoo has also started a 24-hour livestream on zoodiolive.com, featuring Moo Deng and other animals. On 20 September alone, 44,000 viewers tuned in to watch her antics.
The most popular time for visitors to see Moo Deng is between 7.45am and 9am, when she can be seen running and jumping around as the zookeeper cleans her pen. Visitors are allowed five minutes to watch her, and if they want more time, they must queue again.
According to the zoo, here's Moo Deng's daily schedule, though it can change based on her mood:
8am - 9am: Wakes up for a bath and waits for Mum to eat breakfast
9am - 10am: Walks around, showing off before heading to the water for a nap
10am - 12.30pm: Takes a nap in the water
12.30pm - 1pm: Might get up for a stroll or a nap on land
1pm - 1.30pm: Naps on land
1.30pm - 2pm: Naps in the water again
2pm - 2.30pm: Mum gets out of the water for dinner while Moo Deng naps
2.30pm - 5.30pm: Mom eats grass while Moo Deng waits, occasionally running a bit, followed by a long nap until evening
11pm - 12am: Plays with Mum in the water
1am - 2am: Drinks milk and playfully disturbs Mum
2am - 7am: Sleeps soundly for hours
