Moo Deng is an aunt: new pygmy hippo calf born at Khao Kheow

A new pygmy hippo calf was born on Wednesday 4 November 2026 at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Si Racha, Chonburi. Its parents are Moo Toon, Moo Deng’s older brother, and Moo Manao, which makes the zoo’s most famous hippo an aunt. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin announced the birth on 5 November.

What the zoo has said

Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi said vets had checked mother and calf and found both healthy, according to Thai PBS World. The calf is already walking around its enclosure and stays close to its mother.

The calf’s sex has not been determined yet, and no name has been announced. The minister said Moo Manao is protective and does not let keepers come too close, which he described as normal for a new mother.

Meet the parents

Moo Manao is 14 and came from Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, also known as Korat Zoo, for a national zoo breeding programme. Moo Toon is 7. The two were paired on 24 January 2025.

Moo Deng became an internet star as a baby in 2024 and turned two on 10 July 2026; our Khao Kheow Open Zoo and Moo Deng day-trip guide explains where she lives in the zoo and how to visit.

When can visitors see the new pygmy hippo calf?

Not yet. The zoo plans to introduce the calf to the public soon, but the viewing date is to be announced. A naming poll has not been confirmed either.

The zoo posts its news on its official website and its Facebook page. We will update this article when it announces a viewing date or a name.

Planning a trip to Khao Kheow Open Zoo

The zoo is about two hours’ drive from central Bangkok, depending on traffic. Tickets, show times and visitor rules are in our day-trip guide. For animals closer to home, see where to see animals in Bangkok, and for more stories visit the animals section.