Thai court fines man for entering baby hippo Moo Deng’s enclosure
A Thai court fined a man 10,000 baht (US$300) after he entered the enclosure of Moo Deng, a viral pygmy hippo at Khao Kheow Open Zoo. Officials say the case highlights stricter enforcement of animal protection rules.
- A Thai man was fined 10,000 baht (US$300) for entering a restricted zoo enclosure.
- The incident involved Moo Deng, a widely followed pygmy hippo calf.
- Zoo officials say security has been tightened following the breach.
A Thai court has fined a man 10,000 baht (US$300) after he unlawfully entered the enclosure of Moo Deng, an endangered baby pygmy hippo and internet sensation, at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, the zoo director said on Wednesday, 8 April 2026.
Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoy said that a state prosecutor had informed him the man was found guilty by a local court following his confession and fined 10,000 baht.
“The decision shows that no one can violate animals’ rights, no matter whether they are in an enclosure or in the wild,” Narongwit said.
The incident occurred last month when a Thai national unlawfully entered Moo Deng’s pen, which also houses her mother, at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, located about a two-hour drive from Bangkok.
Footage released by local media showed the man inside the enclosure recording the animal with a tablet. He was reportedly removed by zoo staff after about 10 minutes.
“The individual entered a restricted animal area,” the zoo said in a statement at the time, adding it would “pursue legal action without exception”.
Police said they had initiated a trespassing case. Investigating officer Athiwat Siralertthakorn said the man, who was visiting the zoo with his grandnephew, had wanted a closer look at the animal.
The zoo said Moo Deng was unharmed but “slightly startled” by the incident.
Since March, Narongwit said no similar security breaches had occurred, with increased patrols introduced to deter intruders.
“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,” he 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, whose name translates as “bouncy pork”, has gained global attention through social media videos showing her behaviour, drawing tens of thousands of visitors and boosting zoo ticket sales.
The pygmy hippo calf, which marked its first birthday in July, has inspired merchandise and memes since going viral online in 2024.
