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    • Pygmy hippo rival Moo Deng called Haggis born at Edinburgh Zoo | UK News
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    Pygmy hippo rival Moo Deng called Haggis born at Edinburgh Zoo | UK News

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    An endangered adorable pygmy hippopotamus was born at Edinburgh Zoo.

    She was welcomed into the world on October 30 and, to reflect her Scottish place of birth, is called Haggis.

    The calf – daughter of Gloria and Otto – arrived months after Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus born in Thailand in July that became an internet sensation.

    Edinburgh Zoo posted on its X account today: “Moo Deng? Who said? Introducing… Haggis.

    Jonny Appleyard, hoof team leader at the facility, said: “Haggis is doing really well so far and it’s amazing to see his personality already starting to shine through.

    “The first 30 days are critical for its development, which is why the pygmy hippo house will be closed for the time being to allow us to keep a close eye on mum and baby at this sensitive time.”

    Pygmy hippos are native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, primarily Liberia.

    The species is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN) and there are estimated to be only 2,500 left in the wild due to loss of habitat.


    Haggis the baby pygmy hippo, standing in hay at Edinburgh Zoo
    Haggis was born at Edinburgh Zoo on Wednesday (Photo: Edinburgh Zoo/SWNS)

    Haggis the baby pygmy hippo, standing in hay at Edinburgh Zoo
    Staff say his personality is already shining through (Photo: Edinburgh Zoo/SWNS)

    Jonny added: “Even though Thailand’s Moo Deng has become a global viral icon, it’s important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare.

    “It’s great to have our own little ambassador right here in Edinburgh to connect with our visitors and help raise awareness of the challenges species face in the wild.”

    Moo-Deng, nicknamed “icon” and “legend” by Time Magazine, has over 2.5 million followers on his TikTok account.

    She lives at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand – and her name means “inflatable pig”.


    Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus born in Thailand, walks around his enclosure
    Moo Deng, a Thailand-born pygmy hippopotamus who became an internet sensation, photographed at three months old (Photo: Anadolu)

    Atthapon Nundee, 31, a keeper of Khao Kheow Open Zoo, said: “From the moment I saw Moo-Deng born, I set out to make her famous, but I didn’t expect for it to spread abroad. I thought she might be famous in Thailand but not internationally.

    But fame is not without its drawbacks. Some zoo visitors began throwing water and shells at the sleeping pygmy hippo as she slept in order to take photos, meaning Moo Deng now has her own security guard.

    Edinburgh Zoo is organize a competition to meet baby Haggis. The winner and one of their guests will receive a private tour of the baby hippo with zoo CEO David Field.

    The price also includes a luxury breakfast and a zoo tour, led by David. Entry costs £5 and the money raised goes towards caring for the animals at the zoo.

    Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

    For more stories like this, check out our news page.

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