Moo Deng, a popular pygmy hippopotamus at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, predicted Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would win the 2024 US presidential election. Now, that prediction appears to be accurate, as Trump is on the verge of being declared the winner on Wednesday.
On Monday, the day before the election, Moo Deng chose a watermelon carved with Trump’s name in Thai from two options. The other watermelon bore Kamala Harris’s name. Another hippo present during the prediction chose Harris.
Moo Deng rose to fame after videos of her were shared online, significantly increasing the zoo’s visitor numbers. She now only makes public appearances for a limited time on weekends.
Animals predicting election results is a growing trend. In other cases, a dog named Joy chose Trump, while a squirrel named Gnocchi Jr. predicted a Harris victory.
Social media users reacted to Moo Deng’s prediction with mixed feelings, with some expressing disappointment. One user said, “Moo Deng being a Trumper is the biggest betrayal I’ve felt since my extended family started supporting him.”