A lifestyle icon and spirit animal by equal measure, Moo Deng, the two-month-old baby hippo at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand has the Internet swooning—here are some life lessons we can learn from her authentic self-expression
Moo Deng, the two-month-old baby hippopotamus at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in the Chonburi province of Thailand has the Internet under her stranglehold with ease ever since it was revealed to the public on July 25. She has since then been the centre of attention online and offline, most memorably for her petrified and peevish antics, where she is seen splashing water and acting up in mud whenever being handled by her caretakers.
To say that Moo Deng is a mere Internet sensation would be an understatement; the zoo has seen an unprecedented footfall after Moo Deng has gone viral, with most visitors driving and lining up for hours to catch a glimpse of the endearing baby hippo. The zoo has swiftly capitalised on the sensation and dedicated an exclusive livestream to the Internet starlet so people worldwide can tune in to see what tricks Moo Deng has under her sleeves. While it is not our place to jinx the inspiration of countless memes, beauty trends and merchandise into becoming the real-life Truman in her Moo Deng Show; there are a handful of life lessons we can learn from the pygmy hippo whose charm has left an indelible mark on many.
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1. Always express yourself authentically
Coming from a Cancer, of course, Moo Deng is a natural at communicating her emotions. Unlike the rest of us who fail and falter even at the slightest thought of making ourselves seen and heard, Moo Deng takes the wheel and does not look back. Be it making it obvious that you aren’t having it by holding your mouth ajar or doing that while shaking your head all at once, a Cancer like Moo Deng simply cannot care less about what others think of her, for she is the only person—well, a pygmy hippo at the moment—she has to impress. Very much in tune with her profound feelings and musings, Moo Deng makes her innermost beliefs and convictions crystal clear by expressing herself intuitively and authentically. Because even if all else pans out the other way, she has stayed true to her intuition. That’s quite a lesson to learn from this two-month-old!