Social media loves a charismatic, cute, relatable animal. Personalities like Neil the elephant seal and Pesto the giant baby penguin have captivated millions online. And let’s not forget Moo Deng – the pugnacious baby pygmy hippo who exploded onto the scene in late 2024. Viral clips of her wreaking tiny havoc in Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo made her an overnight sensation, spinning off tons of memes, fan art, and even parodies halfway across the world. But did you know that pygmy hippos are actually an endangered species? They’re native to West Africa, and it’s estimated that there are less than 3,000 individuals left in the world.  Which begs the question – has the Moo Deng phenomenon helped wild pygmy hippos at all, by raising awareness and increasing interest in their conservation? Watch our latest episode of Mongabay Explains to find out if being Internet-famous can help a species survive… or even thrive? Mongabay’s Video Team wants to cover questions and topics that matter to you. Are there any inspiring people, urgent issues, or local stories that you’d like us to cover? We want to hear from you. Be a part of our reporting process—get in touch with us here! Banner image: Collage featuring Moo Deng What singing lemurs can tell us about the origin of musicThis article was originally published on Mongabay

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