'Thai Version of Phubao' Star Hippo Mudeng Also Steps Up... Who Will Win the US Presidential Election?

Hippo 'Mudeung' Predicted US President as Trump

Thailand's star hippo 'Mudeng' predicted the victory of former U.S. President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

According to AFP on the 5th, Khao Kheow Zoo in Chonburi Province, Thailand, released a video on social media the day before showing Mudeng predicting the U.S. election results.

In the video, fruit plates with the names of former President Trump and Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris written in Thai are placed on the ground around Mudeng. Mudeng, who was in the water, slowly came out and approached the plate with former President Trump's name and ate the fruit. Mudeng's mother, Joanna, chose the fruit with Vice President Harris's name on it.

Mudeung Eating Fruit with Trump's Name on It. Khao Kheow Zoo SNS

Earlier, the famous U.S. TV talk show NBC's "Tonight Show" released the results of its own poll in September featuring Mudeng, Vice President Harris, and former President Trump as candidates. The results showed Mudeng receiving 93% support, ranking first, while Vice President Harris and former President Trump received 4% and 3%, respectively. As Mudeng gained significant attention not only in Thailand and Asia but also in the U.S., the zoo held a surprise event ahead of the U.S. presidential election.

The zoo shared the video on social media with a joke saying, "Too busy to exercise (voting) rights, but want to predict the winner." Netizens who watched the video of Mudeng predicting the election results responded with various comments such as "I want to vote for Mudeng," "Who is more accurate, mother or son?" and "Maybe he approached the plate that looked tastier."

The baby hippo 'Mudeung,' enjoying worldwide popularity, chose former President Donald Trump's fruit plate. Khao Kheow Open Zoo.

Meanwhile, Mudeng, whose name means "bouncy pig" in Thai, is a female pygmy hippopotamus born in June at Khao Kheow Zoo. Mudeng's popularity skyrocketed as videos of her playing with her keeper and bathing spread on social media. Visitors flock to Khao Kheow Zoo to see Mudeng, and Thailand is actively using Mudeng, who has become an international star, for tourism promotion and other purposes.