Current:Home > reviewsPredictIQ Quantitative Think Tank Center:Moo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked. -GrowthSphere Strategies
PredictIQ Quantitative Think Tank Center:Moo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked.
Rekubit View
Date:2025-04-07 18:04:26
A wet,PredictIQ Quantitative Think Tank Center chubby baby hippopotamus has cast her "vote" in on the U.S. presidential election.
Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, was presented with two fruit baskets made to look like cakes this week, one with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris' name and the other with Republican candidate Donald Trump's name.
In a video shared by Khao Kheow Open Zoo on X, both cakes are placed in Moo Deng's pen, surrounded by a crowd of eager guests. The video depicts Moo Deng slowly walking up to her fruit basket of choice and before long, she's munching and crunching on the Trump cake.
Moo Deng's mother, on the other hand, chose the fruit bearing Harris' name.
Who is Moo Deng?
Nearly four months old, Moo Deng has taken social media by storm during her short time on earth. Videos and photos of the baby hippo yelling at her zoo keepers, resting in a water bucket and enjoying a bath have garnered millions of views this summer. And Khao Kheow Open Zoo boasts more than 132,000 followers on X.
Born on July 10, Moo Deng's name means "bouncing pig" in Thai. Her mother is Jona, 25, and her father is Tony, 24. She has two siblings, Pork Stew and Sweet Pork. Moo Deng is also the granddaughter of Thailand's oldest hippo, Malee, who is 59 years old, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.
Pygmy hippos, often thought of as the smaller cousin, are about half the size of common hippos, weighting less than one-fourth of a full-sized common hippo, according to the Pygmy Hippo Foundation. Pygmies are native to West Africa and their average life expectancy is 27 years.
In 2016, pygmy hippos were deemed an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A 1993 survey conducted by IUCN found that only about 2,000-3,000 pygmies remained worldwide.
A new pygmy on the block? Meet Haggis.
Moo Deng is no longer the only pygmy hippo looking for social media fame.
On Oct. 30, a female pygmy calf named Haggis was born at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's Edinburgh Zoo to parents Otto and Gloria, according to a news release shared by the institution.
“While Thailand’s Moo Deng has become a viral global icon, it is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare," Jonny Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said in the release. "It is great to have our own little ambassador right here in Edinburgh to connect with our visitors and help raise awareness of the challenges the species face in the wild.”
Appleyard added that Haggis is "doing really well" and her personality is already starting to shine.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].
veryGood! (59)
Related
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- Jana Kramer’s Ex Mike Caussin Shares Resentment Over Her Child Support Payments
- DWTS’ Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten Have the Best Reaction to Fans Hoping for a Romance
- How to protect your Social Security number from the Dark Web
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Patrick Mahomes Breaks Silence on Frustrating Robbery Amid Ongoing Investigation
- Review: 'Emilia Pérez' is the most wildly original film you'll see in 2024
- Just Eat Takeaway sells Grubhub for $650 million, just 3 years after buying the app for $7.3 billion
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- McDonald's Version: New Bestie Bundle meals celebrate Swiftie friendship bracelets
Ranking
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Why Josh O'Connor Calls Sex Scenes Least Sexy Thing After Challengers With Zendaya and Mike Faist
- Darren Criss on why playing a robot in 'Maybe Happy Ending' makes him want to cry
- Investigation into Chinese hacking reveals ‘broad and significant’ spying effort, FBI says
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Artem Chigvintsev Returns to Dancing With the Stars Ballroom Amid Nikki Garcia Divorce
- John Krasinski Details Moment He Knew Wife Emily Blunt Was “the One”
- John Krasinski is People's Sexiest Man Alive. What that says about us.
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
Artem Chigvintsev Returns to Dancing With the Stars Ballroom Amid Nikki Garcia Divorce
US overdose deaths are down, giving experts hope for an enduring decline
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says next year will be his last in office; mum on his plans afterward
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
Nicky Hilton Shares Her Christmas Plans With Paris, the Secret To Perfect Skin & More Holiday Gift Picks
Caitlin Clark's gold Nike golf shoes turn heads at The Annika LPGA pro-am
Agents search home of ex-lieutenant facing scrutiny as police probe leak of school shooting evidence