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Thailand’s baby pygmy hippo, Moo Deng, now has an official song in 4 languages
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Thailand’s baby pygmy hippo, Moo Deng, now has an official song in 4 languages

BANGKOK — In case you can’t get enough of Thailand’s little pygmy hippo Moo Deng, there’s now an official song featuring the Internet’s favorite baby animal — released in four languages ​​for his fans around the world.

The upbeat 50-second song “Moodeng Moodeng,” available in Thai, English, Chinese and Japanese versions, features simple lyrics like “Moo Deng Moo Deng, boing boing boing/Mommy mom, play with me.” Its music video consists of short clips of the baby hippo bouncing around, playing with its keeper or spending time with its mother Jona.

This catchy track was produced and written by famous Thai composer Mueanphet Ammara, and released by one of Thailand’s biggest music companies, GMM Music.

Moo Deng – whose name literally means “bouncing pig”, a type of meatball, in Thai – became a global phenomenon barely a month after being unveiled on Facebook by the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in the province of Chon Buri, southern Thailand.

Fans say his name complements his chaotic personality. Moo Deng loves to “deng,” or bounce, and his dizzying twists and turns have appeared on social media in countless memes. His image has been used by sports teams and businesses.

The hippopotamus, now 4 months old, has attracted large numbers of visitors to the zoo, located about a two-hour drive from the capital Bangkok. The zoo estimates it has received an average of 3,000 to 5,000 visitors per day in recent months and sells clothing, bedding and other merchandise based on Moo Deng.

Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi said Moo Deng’s increased income would help its breeding programs for many endangered species like the pygmy hippopotamus, which is threatened by poaching and habitat loss. The species is native to West Africa and there are only 2,000 to 3,000 individuals left in the wild.

The zoo covers 800 hectares (nearly 2,000 acres) of land and is home to more than 2,000 animals.