Moo Deng has a stalker! Man is arrested after being caught climbing into viral pygmy hippo’s enclosure
A man has been arrested after he was caught climbing into an enclosure of Moo Deng, the adorable pygmy hippo who became a social media sensation.
The Thai man allegedly entered the enclosure on Tuesday while a keeper was away and no other visitors were around, according to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo’s director Narongwit Chodchoy.
Security footage widely shared online shows a man wearing a black beanie, sunglasses, a green tank top, and brown shorts approaching Moo Deng and her mother Jona while holding a tablet, apparently recording or taking photos.
The man remained inside the enclosure for a minute or two before staff noticed him, Narongwit said, adding that he did not attempt to flee while the zoo called for police.
Moo Deng found fame shortly after she was born in 2024, largely thanks to a keeper who shared adorable pictures and videos of the baby hippo on social media.
Since then, she has drawn large crowds from Thailand and abroad who want to witness her charm in person and shoot photos and videos of her for themselves.
Police have initially charged the man with trespassing, but the investigation is still ongoing and Narongwit said the zoo intends to pursue all available legal action. Police did not identify the suspect.
The man has been released on bail, Narongwit said. He added Moo Deng and Jona were safe as the man did not try to touch them.
A man has been arrested after climbing into Moo Deng’s enclosure at Khao Kheow Open Zoo
The viral pygmy hippo on July 10, 2025
In a statement posted Tuesday on the zoo’s official Facebook page, it said both animals appeared slightly startled by the encounter and would be monitored closely by a vet.
The zoo also urged visitors to ‘strictly follow all rules and instructions from staff for the safety of both themselves and the wildlife’.
The Khao Kheow Open Zoo, which is about 60 miles southeast of Bangkok, sits on almost 2,000 acres of land and is home to more than 2,000 animals. Moo Deng has doubled the number of visitors at the site.
Moo Deng, which literally means ‘bouncy pork’ in Thai, is a type of meatball.
The sensation was born on July 10, 2024, to parents Jonah and Tony.
The hippo’s miniature frame and podgy proportions helped inspire a fervent following.
Even the Royal Thai Embassy featured the baby hippo on its social media channels. Fans have made artwork and cakes in her image with one cosmetics chain also telling its customers to ‘wear your blush like a baby hippo’.
Moo Deng’s fame started when zookeepers at the zoo started posting videos of her on their TikTok account – which boasted millions of followers.
