Baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng has millions of fans, but his keeper is worried

Baby hippos Moo Deng. (Twitter/@PopCrave)

JAKARTA - His pink pink and charismatic cheeks that have created the two-month-old dwarf hippo Moo Deng has millions of online fans, attracting many visitors to the Thai zoo where he lives.

The tiny newcomer at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, east of the capital Bangkok, has gone viral on social media since his guard began posting footage of his life online.

When he doesn't eat wine, he rolls over on the floor or soak in the hot Thai sun, quoted from CNN September 20.

According to a social media clip that has attracted millions of views, he also likes to bite his handlers' knees when they wash them.

"The humorous nature is its behavior that attracts tourists," Narongwit Chodchoy, zoo director told CNN.

"As a result of Moo Deng's fame, the number of zoo visitors rose by at least 30 percent," said Narongwit.

However, Moo Deng's fame also brought unwanted disruptions to his life, prompting the director to issue a warning.

"Some tourists behaved inappropriately. One person poured water (at his direction) while the other threw shells at Moo Deng while he was lying on the floor," he said.

He also urged tourists to be wise and promise to take legal action against anyone who harms the mammalian child star.

While he continues to attract admirers directly, Moo Deng has found his greatest fame online.

One very popular video posted on Facebook shows him yawning and seems to enjoy tapping on the chin of his guard having garnered 5.8 million views and growing.

"He's a star," wrote a fan of Aom Worawan on Facebook.

Another, Napatsaw Balee, said "a superstar incarnation as a hippopotamus."

"He became famous when he was born," he wrote.

"Haha, so funny!!"

Moo Deng's name means a "tunal pig" in Thai, and is a pork dish commonly known for its prosperity.

The name was decided by 20,000 Facebook users in the August poll, according to the zoo.

Moo Deng was born on July 10 of parent Jona and male Tony who previously had Moo Toon and Moo Warn, both of whom were also named after food in the Thai food menu.

Coming from West Africa, a dwarf hippo is a smaller cousin than a normal hippopotamus.

It is known that only about 2,000 dwarf hippos remain in the wild, especially in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast, according to the UK-centered Pygmywas Foundation.

Narongwit recommends the best time to see Moo Deng in action at the zoo is in the morning between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., as the guard cleans his cage.

"This is when Moo Deng becomes excited because the guard will pour water around him," he said.

Another right time is in the afternoon when the guard feeds his mother, while Moo Deng follows her around. The hippo baby relies heavily on Jona, said Narongwit.