Who Is Baby Hippo Haggis? Get to Know the Calf Captivating Edinburgh Zoo Attendees

Move over, Moo Deng.

After all, there’s room to be made for Haggis, the latest addition to Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo and another pygmy hippo who is ready for her close up.

Haggis was born to parents Otto and Gloria on Oct. 30, with the tiny calf’s arrival announced via an official statement on the zoo’s website on Nov. 4, that playfully began with the banner “Moo Deng Who?”

“Haggis is doing really well so far and it is amazing to see her personality beginning to shine already,” Jonny Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo said in the statement. “The first 30 days are critical for her development, so the pygmy hippo house will be closed for now to allow us to keep a close eye on mum and baby at this sensitive time.”

Johnny noted that the birth of Haggis and the viral love around Moo Deng has raised awareness for the animals—who have officially been declared endangered.

“While Thailand’s Moo Deng has become a viral global icon, it is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare,” he continued. “It is great to have our own little ambassador right here in Edinburgh to connect with our visitors and help raise awareness of the challenges the species face in the wild.”

And Haggis’ social media team has already gotten to work. After the internet caught wind of the shade, the zoo released an “apology” to Moo Deng and Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo for pitting the little ladies against each other.

“We were wrong to pit Haggis and Moo Deng against each other,” the notes app apology read on X (formally known as Twitter) Nov. 4. “There is space in this world for two beautiful pygmy hippo divas and we should celebrate them all. Sorry to Moo Deng. Let’s work this out on the remix.”

Naturally, there’s room for both gals, as their fame has brought awareness to the species of hippos, native to Liberia and other forest and swamps in West Africa. It is estimated that only 2,500 remain in the wild, due to habitat loss, per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN).

 

The internet’s original pygmy hippo made her grand debut into the world in July. Since, Moo Deng has captivated the hearts (and even made an appearance on Saturday Night Live) of the world wide web and doubled visitors at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo since her birth in July, per World Animal Protection.

Moo Deng—which roughly translates to Bouncing Pig—has garnered memes, and merchandise. However, her arrival has not been without controversy, as the zoo issued a statement telling visitors to visit her while she’s awake, instead of throwing things and splashing her in an effort to get her to wake up.

"These behaviours are not only cruel, but also dangerous," zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi said in a statement via the BBC. “We must protect these animals and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable environment."

But online, there continues to be an outpour of love for the creature.

As on X user noted during the hippo’s initial rise to fame she is, “the most beautiful girl in the world.” 

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