Baby Hippo in Thailand Gets Official Song for Worldwide Fans

01A baby hippopotamus in Thailand became famous earlier this year when zoo workers published images and videos of her online.

02Now the pygmy hippo named Mu Deng has an official song and video released in several languages for her fans worldwide.

03Mu Deng lives at Kaokyo Open Zoo, southeast of the Thai capital, Bangkok.

04Zoo worker Atapon Nundi has been posting sweet moments of the animal's life for the past few months.

05During that time, the hippo has received widespread attention on social media.

06Fans of the animal have expressed how they enjoy watching the pink-cheeked baby actively interact with her mother and other zoo workers.

07Mu Deng, which means bouncy pork in Thai, is a kind of meatball.

08The name chosen by fans on social media is similar to those of her two siblings, Mu Thun, stewed pork, and Mu Wan, sweet pork.

09In addition, the zoo has a common hippo named Ka Mu, stewed pork leg.

10Mu Deng's popularity has spread internationally, and she has gained the attention of some professional sports teams.

11Fans say her name fits her lively personality.

12Mu Deng likes to deng or bounce, and her bouncing behavior has led to countless internet memes.

13For example, the German soccer team FC Bayern, American basketball team Phoenix Suns, and the American football team Washington Commanders have all created Mu Deng memes.

14The images give her interesting things to wear and put her in different human-like situations.

15Atapon, the zoo worker, told the Associated Press he was surprised the newborn pygmy hippo quickly became such a huge internet star.

16I wanted people to know her, he explained.

17I wanted a lot of people to visit her or watch her online or leave fun comments.

18I never would have thought of this, he added.

19The widespread publicity led a well-known Thai composer to write and produce a special song for Mu Deng.

20The lively 50-second song is called, naturally, Mu Deng.

21Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Deng, Mu Pygmy hippos are native to West Africa, but experts say there are only 2,000 to 3,000 of them left in the wild.

22All four versions of the Mu Deng song are available on YouTube and on streaming services including Spotify and Apple Music.

23I'm Brian Lynn.