Popularity Surpassing Fubao? ... 'Mudeng' Revitalizing Thailand's Economy

Endangered Species with Only 3,000 Left in the Wild
Rises to Stardom After July

Thanks to the baby pygmy hippo mascot "Mudeng," local zoo visitors in Thailand have surged by 400%. Mudeng has recently gained popularity online, positively impacting the regional economy.

On the 12th (local time), Thai media including the Bangkok Post reported that Mudeng has become a hot topic among netizens worldwide. Mudeng means "bouncy pig" in Thai and is a female pygmy hippo born on July 10. Previously, the local zoo raising Mudeng posted a video on their SNS account showing Mudeng interacting with her caretaker.

Endangered species 'Pygmy Hama' Mudeung. Screenshot by X

Since then, Mudeng has attracted global attention and risen to stardom. The rarity of Mudeng also drew notice. The pygmy hippo is an endangered species inhabiting the tropical rainforests of West Africa, with only about 3,000 wild pygmy hippos remaining worldwide. Even when fully grown, pygmy hippos are only about one-tenth the size of regular hippos and are also nicknamed "baby hippos."

The Bangkok Post introduced that Mudeng is having a positive effect on the "local economy." Citing the governor of Chonburi Province, where the zoo is located, the media reported, "Thanks to Mudeng, Chonburi Province earned 27 billion baht (approximately 1 trillion won) in tourism revenue from July to October this year." This represents a 4% increase compared to the same period last year. Additionally, Chonburi has risen to become the region with the third highest tourism revenue in Thailand, following Bangkok and Phuket.

Recent appearance of Mudeung born last July. X captured

The Khao Kheow Zoo, where Mudeng lives, explained that after Mudeng was born, foreign tourists increased by 10%, and the average daily number of visitors surged from around 3,000 to 12,000, a fourfold increase. The nationalities of foreign tourists included China, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Singapore, Korea, and Taiwan.

A song themed around Mudeng was also created. Written by a famous Thai composer, the song was distributed by Thailand's largest record company, "GMM." It was released in Thai, English, Chinese, and Japanese versions. Foreign media such as the AP News also reported that secondary products featuring Mudeng, such as bedding, dolls, and clothing, are gaining popularity.