Moo Deng: the viral hippo calf and the ethics of fame

Moo Deng is on the New York Times list of the "63 most elegant people of 2024": yet another slap in the face of a protected species that is once again commodified and spectacularized

Moo Deng, the pygmy hippopotamus calf hailing from Thailand’s Khao Kheow Zoo, made it to the New York Times‘ list of “The 63 Most Stylish People of 2024“. The playful and loving animal has captured public hearts to become a viral social media sensation.

But this recognition has also surprised and raised some controversy, as the list is traditionally reserved for celebrities and influential people in the world of fashion. The New York Times justified its decision by arguing that style is not only about fashion but also about creating something that captures the mass imagination.

To Moo Deng, that translates to endearing bites and shrieks that have charmed millions. Her irrepressible charm even inspired Today Show host Hoda Kotb to dub her “the sexiest new It girl on the planet“.

The list, out on December 5, 2024, includes icons such as Beyoncé, Zendaya, Adele, and Daniel Craig. Yet it also contains some unusual entries, like Ellie, the elephant mascot for the New York Liberty basketball team, and even the River Seine in Paris, revitalized for swimmers ahead of the Olympics.

What is the point of this media circus?

Let’s go back to our hippo calf. This “recognition,” if it can be called that, may seem sweet and playful, but it also raises critical concerns about the commodification of nature and the ethics of zoos as entertainment venues.

Since the moment of her birth, Moo Deng turned into a celebrity; thousands of visitors came, and zoo revenues doubled. Fully aware of her popularity, even a live webcam was installed in the zoo so people could observe her 24/7.

But this campaign, which propelled Moo Deng into viral stardom, has also brought out disturbing behavior in visitors. Less sensitive people disturb the calf with cruel gestures: throwing water on her or tossing objects to wake her up, making her a captive star-a victim of her own fame.

This situation has pointed out the exploitation of wildlife and the spectacle of animals, reducing a wild creature to a cultural commodity. Zoos are increasingly turning into amusement parks, where entertainment is more emphasized than education and conservation.

A symbol of contradictions

In the case of Moo Deng, the fact that her enclosure has been transformed into a globally streamed set, complete with signs that attempt to restrain unruly visitors, only underlines the contradictions inherent in such institutions. Instead of calling attention to the plight of the pygmy hippopotamus-a vulnerable species-her fame has fed a media circus that ignores the species’ real needs.

Her inclusion in the New York Times list further exacerbates this issue and raises the question of what it truly means to celebrate a symbol of elegance. True elegance lies not in putting nature under the spotlight but in respecting and protecting it—qualities far more valuable than a popularity built at the expense of an animal’s dignity.

Source: The New York Times