大象传媒

Meet the 'Moo' hippo in town! Can Haggis rival star Moo Deng?

Moo Deng and Haggis the pygmy hipposImage source, Getty/RZSS
Image caption,

Moo Deng (left) and Haggis (right) the pygmy hippos

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When it comes to viral stars online you don't get much bigger - in popularity at least - than Moo Deng.

If you have somehow managed to avoid her mischievous ways, she's a baby pygmy hippo with a huge personality and an even bigger following.

Pygmy hippos, otherwise known as dwarf hippos, are native to West Africa and are endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Well, now another of the species has been born at Edinburgh Zoo, called Haggis, and keepers feel she could rival Moo Deng.

Who is Haggis the pygmy hippo?

Image source, RZSS

Haggis was born on 30 October at the zoo in Scotland.

Those looking after her say she is "doing well", but visitors won't be able to see her just yet as she will be closed off in the hippo house temporarily.

She will be staying with her mum, Gloria, so that keepers can keep an eye on the pair.

Jonny Appleyard, who is the hoofstock team leader at the Zoo, said Haggis is doing really well so far and her "personality is beginning to shine already".

Image source, RZSS

It is thought that there are only around 2,500 pygmy hippos left in the wild - the low number thought to be a result of habitat loss.

To celebrate the birth of Haggis, the zoo has offered people a chance to meet the new hippo on the block, with funds raised going towards animal care.

Edinburgh Zoo playfully apologised on social media for "pitting Haggis and Moo Deng against each other".

They went on to say there is space in the world for "two beautiful pygmy hippo divas and we should celebrate them all".