Thai Court Fines Intruder $300 for Trespassing into Viral Baby Hippo Enclosure

A Thai court has fined a man 10,000 baht (approximately $300) for trespassing after he illegally entered the enclosure of Moo Deng, the viral baby pygmy hippo at Khao Kheow Open Zoo.

Security footage released by local media and widely shared online shows the intruder, wearing a beanie, tank top, shorts, and sandals, climbing into the enclosure. The man filmed Moo Deng with a tablet, circling the young hippo and coming within several feet of her. According to reports, he remained inside the enclosure for one to two minutes before staff noticed him and called police. Moo Deng was startled by the encounter but remained unharmed.

Court Ruling and Zoo Director’s Statement

Narongwit Chodchoy, the zoo’s director, confirmed that the court found the man guilty of trespassing.

"No one can violate animals’ rights, no matter whether they are in an enclosure or in the wild," Chodchoy told Agence France-Presse, via the BBC.

Impact on Zoo Security Measures

The incident has prompted the zoo to reassess its security protocols.

"We train staff on what to do if any animals escape, but from now on, we will have to train them on what to do if there are any intruders," Chodchoy said. "We learned from this lesson and will not allow it to happen again — not to Moo Deng and not to other animals in the zoo."

Moo Deng’s Viral Fame

The break-in highlights the extraordinary public fascination with Moo Deng, whose adorable appearance made her an internet sensation in 2024. The incident raises questions about the lengths some people will go to capture viral content for social media platforms like Instagram.

Moo Deng’s star power shows no signs of fading, as evidenced by this latest episode.

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