Khao Kheow Open Zoo near Pattaya has implemented viewing sessions to 5-minutes per person exclusively for “Moo Deng,” the popular pygmy hippo calf, with each session limited to only 50 people, as large crowds of both domestic and international tourists flock to see her, resulting in unprecedented foot traffic for the zoo.
On September 14th, 2024, Mr. Narongwit Chodchoi, Director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo, announced that “Moo Deng,” a 2-month-old female pygmy hippo calf, has gained international reputation by even making it onto TIME magazine and various other international media. With a growing number of fans, the zoo has seen an unprecedented surge in visitors.
Over the weekend, more than 12,000 visitors gathered as early as 7:00 AM, causing traffic jams stretching over 2 kilometers outside the zoo before its opening at 8:00 AM.
Mr. Narongwit stated that the “Moo Deng phenomenon” has led to a 30-40% increase in visitors at the zoo, which before Moo Deng normally saw about 700-800 people on weekdays and 3,000-4,000 on weekends, despite now being the low season. Therefore, to ensure all visitors have a chance to see the famous calf without disappointment, the zoo has implemented measures limiting viewing times to 5 minutes per group of 30-50 people to ease congestion.
A 24-hour live stream of the baby hippo will also begin next week on the Zoodio live streaming website to give everyone a chance to admire Moo Deng’s cuteness.
However, the zoo has warned visitors not to disturb Moo Deng while she is sleeping, stating that legal action will be taken against anyone caught throwing objects at her to get her attention.
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