Moo Deng, a playful baby pygmy hippo born in Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, has taken the internet by storm with her cute antics. From splashing in water to enjoying belly rubs, she’s captured the hearts of millions.
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What started with fanart and merchandise has now spread to the baking world. Bangkok’s Vetmon Cafe created a Moo Deng-inspired cake, which quickly went viral. Customers loved the cake so much that they didn’t want to eat it!
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The cafe received over a hundred preorders for the cake, handcrafted with a butter cake base and chocolate fondant. Despite the overwhelming demand, they had to limit orders as the team worked around the clock to keep up.
British cake artist Ben Cullen, known as “The Bake King,” took the trend even further by creating an ultra-realistic Moo Deng cake, confusing viewers in a viral video as he sliced into what looked like the actual baby hippo.
Moo Deng’s fame isn’t limited to food—her name even inspired a fringe cryptocurrency, which soared in value, turning one investor’s $800 into $7.5 million.
However, Moo Deng’s popularity hasn’t come without problems. Some visitors to the zoo misbehaved, throwing objects at her to provoke a reaction. The zoo has since installed surveillance cameras and threatened legal action to protect the endangered pygmy hippo.
With only 2,000-2,500 pygmy hippos left in the wild, Moo Deng’s story shines a light on the plight of this endangered species, inspiring fans worldwide to cherish and protect these rare animals.
