Round-the-clock hippo-cam! Moo Deng’s 24/7 stream delights fans (video)

Fans of pygmy hippopotamus sensation Moo Deng are in for a treat as the hippo’s zoo owners announced they intend to video their star attraction 24/7 after the income from visitors reached almost 13 million baht.

Zoo officials have announced they’ll keep cameras rolling around the clock to capture every adorable, wobbly moment.

Today, September 20, at 11.30am, Narongwit Chodchoi, Director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri province, spilled the beans on Moo Deng-mania. The bouncy little hippo has become such a hit that ticket sales have skyrocketed by over 50% since September 1. The stats are in: a jaw-dropping 81,786 tourists have flocked to see the charming chum, generating a hefty 12,972,465 baht!

Zoo officials are predicting even more head counts, expecting over one million visitors for the fiscal year from October to September next year, pushing their revenue predictions over a dazzling 200 million baht – a much-needed bounce back from the Covid-19 slump.

The ripple effect of Moo Deng’s giggle-inducing antics is attracting tourists from all corners of Asia, including Japan, China, and South Korea. Now, Khao Kheow Open Zoo is gearing up to launch a 24/7 live stream via www.zoodiolive.com, letting fans dive into the hippo’s hijinks any time, day or night.

This isn’t their first rodeo with tourist surges. They’ve managed to bring in over 15,000 visitors on public holidays alone. The zoo is all set to handle the burgeoning Moo Deng fan club, ramping up safety protocols, waste management, and spotlessly clean facilities, reported Channel 3 Plus News.

Dark truth

Visitors can also look forward to cruising around in golf carts, trams, and electric tricycles while enjoying a spread of restaurants and beverage shops. Rest assured, all of this while the main attraction, Moo Deng, continues to steal hearts and, quite literally, bring down the house with her bouncy charm.

Meanwhile, not everyone is thrilled with the treatment of Moo Deng. In a viral TikTok video, Jennifer (@JenniferWVegan) spills what she brands as the “dark truth” behind Moo Deng’s stardom. She slams the practice of breeding animals in captivity just to rake in “social media views” and advocates for more funding to go towards conserving wildlife in their natural habitats.

Jennifer’s call to action goes further, criticising the conditions at Khao Kheow Open Zoo and urging the public to boycott zoos altogether. The repost of her video has garnered over 4 million views, sparking a massive online debate.

There’s no denying Jennifer’s point on pygmy hippos being an endangered species, suffering from habitat destruction and illegal hunting in the wild. However, her broader claims about the zoo’s treatment of Moo Deng have met with some pushback.

Recently, Khao Kheow Open Zoo, renowned for its research and conservation efforts, had to issue a stern warning. Overzealous visitors hunting for their own slice of viral fame were harassing Moo Deng, forcing the zoo to threaten legal action against any troublemakers.

Netizens have also clapped back at Jennifer, presenting evidence that paints a different picture.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo isn’t just a playground for gawking tourists, it’s a dedicated research facility contributing to the conservation of multiple species. The zoo collaborates with global organisations, including the Smithsonian National Zoo Park Conservation & Research Center, to bolster efforts to protect wildlife both in captivity and in the wild.