Moo Deng mania: Thai hippo's viral fame boosts local business

Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo born in July at Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo, has millions of fans on social media following her clumsily charming adventures, but she has also become an unlikely entrepreneurial catalyst.With her irresistible pink cheeks and pint-sized charm, Moo Deng, whose name means "bouncing pig" in Thai, has swept social media users off their feet, but her influence extends far beyond the digital realm, sparking a remarkable small business boom in Thailand.Moo Deng's viral appeal has reached far beyond cakes and toys. Her popularity has also inspired a variety of businesses, from cosmetics to fashion, and even attracted attention from global corporations, both in Thailand and abroad.REUTERS VIDEO

Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo born in July at Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo, has millions of fans on social media following her clumsily charming adventures, but she has also become an unlikely entrepreneurial catalyst. With her irresistible pink cheeks and pint-sized charm, Moo Deng, whose name means "bouncing pig" in Thai, has swept social media users off their feet, but her influence extends far beyond the digital realm, sparking a remarkable small business boom in Thailand. Moo Deng's viral appeal has reached far beyond cakes and toys.

Her popularity has also inspired a variety of businesses, from cosmetics to fashion, and even attracted attention from global corporations, both in Thailand and abroad. REUTERS VIDEO.