Current:Home > MarketsMoo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked. -Secure Growth Academy
Moo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked.
View
Date:2025-04-14 22:42:50
A wet, chubby baby hippopotamus has cast her "vote" in on the U.S. presidential election.
Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, was presented with two fruit baskets made to look like cakes this week, one with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris' name and the other with Republican candidate Donald Trump's name.
In a video shared by Khao Kheow Open Zoo on X, both cakes are placed in Moo Deng's pen, surrounded by a crowd of eager guests. The video depicts Moo Deng slowly walking up to her fruit basket of choice and before long, she's munching and crunching on the Trump cake.
Moo Deng's mother, on the other hand, chose the fruit bearing Harris' name.
Who is Moo Deng?
Nearly four months old, Moo Deng has taken social media by storm during her short time on earth. Videos and photos of the baby hippo yelling at her zoo keepers, resting in a water bucket and enjoying a bath have garnered millions of views this summer. And Khao Kheow Open Zoo boasts more than 132,000 followers on X.
Born on July 10, Moo Deng's name means "bouncing pig" in Thai. Her mother is Jona, 25, and her father is Tony, 24. She has two siblings, Pork Stew and Sweet Pork. Moo Deng is also the granddaughter of Thailand's oldest hippo, Malee, who is 59 years old, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.
Pygmy hippos, often thought of as the smaller cousin, are about half the size of common hippos, weighting less than one-fourth of a full-sized common hippo, according to the Pygmy Hippo Foundation. Pygmies are native to West Africa and their average life expectancy is 27 years.
In 2016, pygmy hippos were deemed an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A 1993 survey conducted by IUCN found that only about 2,000-3,000 pygmies remained worldwide.
A new pygmy on the block? Meet Haggis.
Moo Deng is no longer the only pygmy hippo looking for social media fame.
On Oct. 30, a female pygmy calf named Haggis was born at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's Edinburgh Zoo to parents Otto and Gloria, according to a news release shared by the institution.
“While Thailand’s Moo Deng has become a viral global icon, it is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare," Jonny Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said in the release. "It is great to have our own little ambassador right here in Edinburgh to connect with our visitors and help raise awareness of the challenges the species face in the wild.”
Appleyard added that Haggis is "doing really well" and her personality is already starting to shine.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.
veryGood! (368)
Related
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Trump says Taiwan should pay more for defense and dodges questions if he would defend the island
- Simone Biles changed gymnastics. Now, it has to be more accessible for kids of color
- Dick Van Dyke Addresses 46-Year Age Gap With Wife Arlene Silver
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Trump sneakers, with photo from assassination attempt, on sale for $299 on Trump site
- Not having Pride Night didn’t exclude Rangers from hosting All-Star Game, Manfred says
- Christina Hall Shares Glimpse Into Family Time Amid Josh Hall Divorce
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Dick Van Dyke Addresses 46-Year Age Gap With Wife Arlene Silver
Ranking
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Angel City FC to become highest-valued women’s sports team with historic $250 million deal
- Utility man working to restore power in Texas arrested, accused of beating another lineman
- Tour de France standings, results after Ecuador's Richard Carapaz wins Stage 17
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Longer lives, lower pay: Why saving for retirement is harder for women
- Jon Gosselin and Daughter Hannah Detail 75 Lb. Weight Loss Transformation
- Before the 'Golden Bachelor' divorce there was 'Celebrity Family Feud': What happened?
Recommendation
The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
Aging bridges in 16 states to be replaced or improved with $5 billion in federal funds
Shooting attack at Oman mosque leaves 6 people dead, dozens wounded
Tour de France standings, results after Ecuador's Richard Carapaz wins Stage 17
Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
'Too Hot to Handle' Season 6: Release date, time, cast, where to watch new episodes
Nearly two-thirds of Democrats want Biden to withdraw, new AP-NORC poll finds
'Simone Biles Rising': Acclaimed gymnast describes Tokyo as 'trauma response'