LONDON (AP) — Edinburgh Zoo has launched a cuteness contest between Haggis, its newborn pygmy hippopotamus, and Moo Deng, the…
LONDON (AP) — Edinburgh Zoo has launched a cuteness contest between Haggis, its newborn pygmy hippopotamus, and Moo Deng, the adorable mini hippopotamus which became a viral sensation at a Thai zoo this summer.
“Moo Deng?” Who is it ? Scottish Zoo playfully posted on social media platform X on Monday as it introduced its baby hippopotamus to the world.
The smack talk pitted two creatures with more in common than just being females of the same endangered species against each other. They are also named after meat products that generally don’t have cute connotations.
Haggis, Scotland’s national dish and the butt of many jokes, is prepared in a sheep’s belly filled with spicy, diced innards. Moo deng is a type of meatball which means “bouncing pork” in Thai.
Moo Deng, a plump, rosy-cheeked pygmy hippopotamus, quickly became a social media star about two months after he was born at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in July. Videos of her have gone viral and she has been the source of countless memes.
The Thai zoo planned to copyright and trademark the hippo’s name and capitalize on its fame by manufacturing shirts, pants and other items to support its operations.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is also looking to cash in on its pygmy prize with a draw promising the winner a “unique pygmy hippo experience” to meet Haggis and his parents, Gloria and Otto. Tickets cost £5 ($6.50) and the zoo reached more than half of its £15,000 ($19,500) goal in one day.
“Prepare to fall in love with little Haggis,” the zoo said. “With his playful nature, Haggis will show you why the world has fallen in love with pygmy hippos! »
It is estimated that there are only around 2,500 pygmy hippos in the wild in West Africa, where they are threatened by poaching and habitat loss.
Visitors to Edinburgh Zoo will not be able to immediately see Haggis, born on October 30, as the hippo house will be closed for the first month of her development.
After using Moo Deng’s fame to draw attention to Haggis, the zoo apologized for creating a rivalry.
“We were wrong to pit Haggis and Moo Deng against each other,” the zoo said in a later post. “There is room in this world for two beautiful pygmy hippo divas and we should celebrate them all.”
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