Recently, misinformation about the pygmy hippopotamus named Moo Deng began to circulate on social media, leading many to believe that she had passed away. Moo Deng, who resides in a zoo in Thailand, gained widespread popularity last year after the facility shared delightful videos of her engaging in playful activities and mealtime moments. Rest assured, Moo Deng is alive and thriving.
On March 14, Twitter user @poopnibbler expressed their sorrow in a tweet, stating:
“Moo Deng died we must have a moment of silence for her after she passed away..”
This sentiment echoing Moo Deng’s supposed demise was also shared by others. For example, @SpookieCorvus posted the following on March 13: “WHAT THE F**K DO YOU MEAN MOO DENG DIED.”
Moo Deng is Safe and Sound
Despite the confusion among netizens, Moo Deng remains very much alive. The reports mistakenly attributing her death to a new tragedy actually stem from the passing of Thabo, the offspring of Moo Deng’s sister. Thabo, who originated from Singapore, died on March 10, as confirmed by TBC Daily. Issues of malnutrition and an infection ultimately led to the young pygmy hippopotamus’s death at just two years old.
The Taipei Zoo had been actively monitoring Thabo’s health, having established a special emergency unit for his care just before he succumbed. Despite medical interventions, Thabo exhibited rapid health decline, characterized by elevated white blood cell counts and signs of potential liver and kidney dysfunction.
Thabo arrived at the Taipei Zoo in mid-November and had made his public debut in January 2025. Just before his health crisis, a zookeeper had noticed an injury on his right foot, prompting comprehensive treatment, including daily cleaning and medication. However, Thabo proved to be a challenging patient, often refusing to take the medications he needed.
The combination of unstable weather conditions, including fluctuating temperatures, exacerbated Thabo’s health issues. It’s noteworthy that prior to being transferred to Taipei Zoo, Thabo lived at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, alongside Moo Deng and another pygmy hippo named Miata.
According to reports from Mothership On Earth, Thabo was known for his love of eating and sleeping, particularly enjoying a diet that consisted mainly of leaves, supplemented by grass, hay, carrots, lettuce, and baby corn.
“He particularly enjoys eating leaves, which comprise the majority of his diet. However, he also eats grass, hay, carrots, lettuce, and baby corn.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies pygmy hippos as “endangered.”Following Thabo’s death, the Taipei Zoo indicated it would conduct an investigation to ensure that environmental factors at the zoo do not pose risks to other animals in their care.
For more detailed insights on this topic, you can refer to this source from Sportskeeda.