Current:Home > MarketsMoo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked. -Global Finance Compass
Moo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked.
View
Date:2025-04-17 08:20:45
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 [email protected].
veryGood! (12398)
Related
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- Tiffany Chen Shares How Partner Robert De Niro Supported Her Amid Bell's Palsy Diagnosis
- A New Report Is Out on Hurricane Ian’s Destructive Path. The Numbers Are Horrific
- How Auditing Giant KPMG Became a Global Sustainability Leader While Serving Companies Accused of Forest Destruction
- 'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
- Barbenheimer opening weekend raked in $235.5 million together — but Barbie box office numbers beat Oppenheimer
- Supreme Court Declines to Hear Appeals From Fossil Fuel Companies in Climate Change Lawsuits
- Former gynecologist Robert Hadden to be sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexual abuse of patients, judge says
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Climate Change Enables the Spread of a Dangerous Flesh-Eating Bacteria in US Coastal Waters, Study Says
Ranking
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- New US Car and Truck Emissions Standards Will Make or Break Biden’s Climate Legacy
- Karlie Kloss Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 2 With Husband Joshua Kushner
- Lisa Marie Presley's Autopsy Reveals New Details on Her Bowel Obstruction After Weight Loss Surgery
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Illinois Launches Long-Awaited Job-Training Programs in the Clean Energy and Construction Sectors
- Roundup, the World’s Favorite Weed Killer, Linked to Liver, Metabolic Diseases in Kids
- Why Lola Consuelos Is Happy to Be Living Back At Home With Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa After College
Recommendation
What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
Proof Patrick and Brittany Mahomes' Daughter Sterling Is Already a Natural Athlete
Shakira Steps Out for Slam Dunk Dinner With NBA Star Jimmy Butler
Demi Lovato Says She Has Vision and Hearing Impairment After Near-Fatal Overdose
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
Clean Energy Is Thriving in Texas. So Why Are State Republicans Trying to Stifle It?
Matt Damon Shares How Wife Luciana Helped Him Through Depression
John Cena’s Barbie Role Finally Revealed in Shirtless First Look Photo