A fresh internet phenomenon has emerged, and it’s a baby pygmy hippo named Haggis from Edinburgh Zoo, who could very well be rivaling the viral popularity of Moo Deng, the hippo who has captured hearts online for the last few months.
If you’re curious about the excitement, yes — things are getting a bit outrageous, but in the most delightful manner. Edinburgh Zoo recently shared the news of Haggis’s birth, the charming child of hippos Otto and Gloria, and they seized the moment to playfully poke fun at Moo Deng. In a tweet, the zoo humorously remarked, “Moo Deng? Who deng?” while introducing their new star. They mentioned that both the mother and baby are thriving, although the hippo house will remain temporarily closed to allow the keepers to closely supervise them during this delicate period.
While some might wonder why there’s a need to compare these two cute hippo infants, the internet seems to welcome both. Nevertheless, Edinburgh Zoo appears to be embracing the competition, likely in an effort to make Haggis the next viral animal star. The zoo has been actively interacting with followers on social media, sharing jokes and even posting a playful “Notes app apology,” a tactic often associated with celebrities following a public faux pas.
This approach seems to be yielding results. The initial announcement regarding Haggis’s birth received 12,000 likes and over 1 million views within merely six hours. While the zoo may have put an end to the lighthearted “feud” with Moo Deng, it appears that Haggis is on her path to becoming the internet’s next viral sensation.