Man fined after breaking into viral hippo Moo Deng's enclosure

The director of the Thai zoo where Moo Deng lives said security would be upped after the incident. Man fined after breaking into viral hippo Moo Deng's enclosure Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Moo Deng became an internet star in 2024 Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo with shiny dark brown skin, walks on the rough ground of her enclosure. A man has been fined $300 (£223) by a Thai court after breaking into the enclosure of Moo Deng, an endangered baby pygmy hippo and internet sensation, the zoo's director said. Narongwit Chodchoy, who runs Khao Kheow Open Zoo, told AFP that the man, who entered Moo Deng's pen last month, had been found guilty by a local court. Footage released by local media showed a man inside the enclosure, recording Moo Deng with a tablet. The zoo, which is about two hours drive from Bangkok, said that the pygmy hippo -who went viral in 2024 after the zoo shared videos of her antics on social media - was unharmed but "slightly startled". Moo Deng lives at Khao Kheow Open Zoo with her mother Jonah Moo Deng, a small brown pygmy hippo stands in front of another hippo with her mouth open wide. Next to her is an arrangement of fruits and vegetables, The zoo's director said the court decision "shows that no one can violate animals' rights, no matter whether they are in an enclosure or in the wild". He told AFP: "We train staff on what to do if any animals escape, but from now on, we will have to train them on what to do if there are any intruders. "We learned from this lesson and will not allow it to happen again - not to Moo Deng and not to other animals in the zoo." The man who broke into Moo Deng's enclosure was fined 10,000 baht ($300), and the incident has resulted in the zoo increasing security patrols, Chodchoy said. Moo Deng - whose name roughly translates to "bouncy pig" - became an internet sensation in 2024 shortly after her birth that July. Videos of the hippo went viral, memes were created, and visitor numbers at the zoo increased hugely as thousands flocked each weekend to catch a glimpse of Moo Deng. A range of merchandise was even created, with fans of the pygmy hippo able to buy Moo Deng-inspired clothes. Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo, facing left and being picked up by a zoo keeper. A baby hippo is going viral - and paying the price Moo Deng in front of a plate of birthday food treats. Moo Deng the tiny hippo celebrates first birthday Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to expand into regions where it has struggled to gain a foothold. BTS turned millions on to K-pop. But now it’s caught between Korea and the world. The semiconductor researcher was found dead after “hostile questioning” by US law enforcement. Trudy was taken in by Monkey World in Dorset after her circus trainer was convicted of animal cruelty. Sophie Imhof says it is a joy to see the flock of 43 "back where they belong". Mapping the DNA of Crinkle, a Barbary macaque at Trentham Monkey Forest, will fight wildlife crime. Asia relies heavily on oil and gas from the Gulf, and shortages and higher prices are starting to bite. The repurposed safety devices help giraffes mimic their natural feeding habits