Thai Man Arrested for Sneaking Into Viral Hippo Moo Deng’s Zoo Habitat

A Thai man was taken into custody after illegally entering the enclosure of Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo who became an internet sensation. Security cameras captured the intruder recording the famous hippo and her mother before zoo staff discovered him and contacted authorities.

BANGKOK — Authorities in Thailand have detained a man who illegally broke into the habitat of Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo whose adorable antics made her a worldwide internet celebrity, according to zoo officials.

The Thai individual allegedly breached the enclosure Tuesday evening during a time when the animal caretaker was absent and no other guests were present, Khao Kheow Open Zoo Director Narongwit Chodchoy explained to The Associated Press.

Surveillance video that has circulated extensively online captures a person dressed in a black beanie, sunglasses, green tank top, and brown shorts getting close to Moo Deng and her mother Jona while holding a tablet device, seemingly filming or photographing them.

The individual stayed within the habitat for approximately one to two minutes before zoo personnel spotted him, Narongwit explained, noting that the suspect made no effort to escape when the facility contacted law enforcement.

Moo Deng became a global celebrity following her birth in 2024, primarily due to a zookeeper who posted charming images and clips of the infant hippo across social media platforms. Her fame has since attracted massive crowds from both Thailand and international destinations, with visitors eager to experience her appeal firsthand and capture their own photos and videos of her endearing behaviors.

Law enforcement has initially filed trespassing charges against the individual, though the investigation continues and Narongwit indicated the zoo plans to seek all possible legal remedies. Authorities have not revealed the suspect’s identity.

The individual has since been freed on bail, Narongwit reported. He confirmed that both Moo Deng and Jona remained unharmed since the intruder made no attempt at physical contact.

According to a statement published Tuesday on the zoo’s official Facebook account, both animals seemed somewhat disturbed by the incident and will receive close veterinary supervision.

The facility also called on guests to “strictly follow all rules and instructions from staff for the safety of both themselves and the wildlife.”

The Khao Kheow Open Zoo, located approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Bangkok, spans 800 hectares (nearly 2,000 acres) and houses over 2,000 animals.