Buzz
Moo Deng—meaning 'bouncy pork' in Thai and a type of meatball—is the viral sensation of the moment. Since the 2-month-old pygmy hippo made her debut on the Instagram page of Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo, she's sparked memes, merchandise, and even makeup trends. While this level of fandom may seem odd to some, there's a scientific reason behind her widespread popularity.
The Science Behind Our Nurturing Response
In essence, Moo Deng is simply too cute to resist. The hippo’s physical traits—round face, large eyes, rosy cheeks—are neotenic (baby-like) features that activate our caretaking instincts. Furthermore, Moo Deng's tiny, vulnerable size adds to her charm. Creatures like her appear defenseless and harmless, which deepens our affection for them.
In 2021, psychologist Hiroshi Nittono shared with Mytour, “One of the key elements that make something cute is the absence of any perceived threat. Small creatures are likely to fulfill this condition.” A study conducted in 2009 also revealed that the baby schema, a set of traits that people commonly find cute, triggers nurturing responses in both men and women. This reaction to cuteness is crucial for the survival of our vulnerable young—and, by extension, the survival of our species.
This reaction is not limited to humans alone. We’re just as likely to respond positively to cuteness in animals, and when we do, areas of our brain linked to pleasure and emotion become activated. That might explain why we can’t seem to get enough of Moo Deng.
The Science Behind 'Cute Aggression'
Oddly enough, some people experience intense impulses when they see Moo Deng—particularly expressing a desire to eat the baby hippo. There’s a scientific reason for this reaction. It's called cute aggression, or the desire to act aggressively toward adorable creatures. This response is more common than you might think. Research suggests that 50 to 60 percent of people feel an urge to squeeze, bite, or crush things they find extraordinarily cute.
In 2015, Yale doctoral students Rebecca Dyer and Oriana Aragón published the first study on cute aggression [PDF]. In their experiment, 109 participants were shown animals with neutral, funny, or cute expressions while given bubble wrap. The results showed that when participants viewed cute animals, brain activity increased, but some participants popped the bubble wrap with more intensity than others. Dyer and Aragón coined the term dimorphous expression to describe this phenomenon, where bodily reactions contrast with emotional responses. Cute aggression is one such expression.
Katherine Stavropoulos, an experimental psychologist from the University of California, Riverside, conducted a follow-up study to explore the reasons behind cute aggression. She discovered that this response was linked to heightened activity in the brain's reward system, indicating that the body may be trying to regulate intense emotions.
As Stavropoulos explained to Mytour in 2021, “It seems that those who experience cute aggression tend to feel overwhelmed by the intensity of their emotions toward the cute thing, while those who don't experience it... simply don’t.”
Regrettably, these impulses sometimes go beyond mere thoughts. Visitors to the zoo have acted on their cute aggression toward Moo Deng by throwing objects at her to grab her attention. Narongwit Chodchoi, the director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo, has issued threats of legal action against the offenders. “These actions are not only cruel but also dangerous,” he said in a statement. “We must protect these animals and ensure their safety and well-being.”
Safeguarding the Pygmy Hippopotamus
While cute aggression is a concern, it's not the biggest threat to Moo Deng’s species. The pygmy hippopotamus is critically endangered, with fewer than 3000 individuals left in West Africa. Habitat destruction and hunting are major contributors to their decline. The Khao Kheow Open Zoo hopes that Moo Deng’s popularity will help raise awareness not only for her species but also for the other animals under their care.
Chodchoi has revealed plans to trademark and patent Moo Deng the hippo in an effort to generate funds for the zoo. “Once we do this, we will have more resources to support activities that will improve the lives of the animals,” the director explained. “The profits we make will go back into the zoo to enhance the well-being of all the animals here.”
