In recent weeks, a baby pygmy hippopotamus from Thailand’s Khao Kheow Zoo in Chon Buri province has become an internet sensation, with photos and videos of Mu Deng sparking a flood of fan art and memes that have earned him the viral power to rival that of a pop singer or movie star.
The rules of the fame game seem to apply equally to all celebrities, human or not. Take, for example, the fact that people are now taking makeup inspiration from Mu Deng. From beauty influencers to global cosmetics chains, there are all kinds of advice on how to use blush to achieve the same peachy color as the baby hippo’s plump cheeks. The zoo, where she lives, is of course using her fame to come up with a range of products, but her face has already appeared on fan-created merchandise around the world, and the zoo has trademarked her name and image. The celebrity selfie craze has also affected Mu Deng. Crowds swarming around her enclosure have cut the time available to meet her to just five minutes.
But while fame may be intense and relentless, it is almost always fleeting. By next season, a new flavour will be available, and the attention of die-hard fans online and offline will have shifted to another adorable animal. Already, Melbourne Zoo’s newest king penguin, a chunky 22kg, fluffy-feathered baby named Pest, is becoming a social media sensation. For Mu Deng, a future of grass-chewing anonymity may be a blessing.
