Moo Deng v. Pesto the Penguin: learn more about the pygmy hippo and king penguin chick sweeping the Internet

From Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippopotamus who is all the rage, to Pesto the penguin, the giant emperor penguin chick towering over his fellow zoo mates, baby animals have taken the world by storm the past few months. Keep reading to learn more about these two superstars, and the species that make them so great!

Why Moo Deng is Going Viral: Unique Traits of Pygmy Hippos

Moo Deng is a sweet little pygmy hippopotamus from the Khao Kheow Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand. She became famous at about two months old when cheeky photos of her biting her trainers’ knee and showing off her trademark smile went viral online.

Moo Deng’s glow isn’t just from all the fame… her glossy skin stays nice and moisturized from a fluid in a gland under the skin that helps pygmy hippos avoid sunburns. Maybe you’ve seen those cute little hippo ears wiggle too! Hippos wiggle their ears to keep them free of water after swimming, and as a sign to other hippos to back off in a tense situation.  

Discover the Fascinating Life of Pygmy Hippopotami

Pygmy hippopotami tend to be shyer than regular hippos. Moo Deng may be a ham for the camera, but typically pygmies like to live alone or in small family groups, as opposed to large hippopotami, who travel in packs. They also swim less than regular hippos, preferring to stay safe on land. They’re mainly nocturnal creatures, preferring to graze and munch at night while sleeping during the day.  

Life as Moo Deng: Habits and Habitat of Pygmy Hippos

All hippos are herbivores, but don’t let that fool you: although pygmy hippos tend to be shy, all hippos can exhibit extremely aggressive tendencies and are very dangerous to humans. Pygmy hippos are endangered and much rarer than a regular hippo.  

Don’t let those little legs deceive you! Pygmy hippos can move at almost 19mph. Pygmy hippos live in the dense forests and swamps of West Africa, and typically live around 27 years. Although we can expect Moo Deng to get pretty hefty (pygmy hippos can weigh anywhere from 350 to 600 pounds!), she’ll still be tiny compared to a regular hippo, which grows to weigh 10x that amount.  

Pesto the Penguin: The Giant Chick Captivating Audiences

Pesto is a giant baby penguin living in the Melbourne Aquarium in Australia. This king penguin baby sweetheart has become famous for his immense size – in fact, he weighs more than both of his parents combined! He is the largest penguin to ever live at the aquarium.  

In the wild, emperor penguins live exclusively in Antarctica. They survive on a diet of squid, crustaceans, and small fish. Although Pesto the penguin is known for his substantial size, king penguins are typically smaller than emperor penguins, although the two species are closely related.

Understanding King Penguin Development: From Chick to Independence

King penguins live for 16-20 years, and typically grow to be 22-35 pounds. That won’t stop Pesto, who is only 8 months old and already over 50 pounds! Don’t worry about this fat penguin though – he’s expected to lose weight after the fledging stage of his development. It takes king penguins up to 13 months to develop waterproof feathers. Until then, king penguin chicks rely on their parents to bring them food. The process of growing waterproof feathers and hunting for their own food is called fledging.  

How do king penguins hatch?

King penguins are also unique for the fact that they do not build nests for their eggs. Instead, they stand upright and incubate the egg while it rests on the top of their feet and stays warm under a loose fold of skin called a brood patch. 

Now that you’re well informed on pygmy hippos and king penguins, you’re well equipped for the next adorable animal to take the world by storm. Will it be a panda cub or perhaps a baby alligator?! We’ll have to wait and see! Keep following Terra in the wild @TerrabyBattat on Instagram and TikTok.

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