Pygmy Hippo, Baby of Moo Deng’s Sister, Confirmed Dead by Taipei Zoo
Taipei, March 10 – A pygmy hippopotamus named Thabo, originally from Singapore and the offspring of Moo Deng’s sister, has been confirmed dead by the Taipei Zoo due to malnutrition and infection, the zoo announced Monday.
In a statement, the Taipei Zoo, which had been home to Thabo, confirmed that the 2-year-old hippo from Singapore's Mandai Wildlife Group passed away sometime after 4 a.m., despite efforts to treat it over the past month. Thabo, born to the sister of Moo Deng—a well-known pygmy hippo—carried a special connection to the global pygmy hippo community, making its loss particularly poignant.
Taipei Zoo spokesperson Tsao Hsien-shao (曹先紹) explained that caring for large animals like Thabo presents significant challenges, as they cannot be easily given injections, IV drips, or tube-fed. Tsao also highlighted Thabo's shyness as a complicating factor in its care. The zoo team attempted to conceal medication in its feed, but the hippo consistently refused it, Tsao said.
Pygmy hippos, native to forests, savannas, and wetlands, are classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with only an estimated 2,000 to 2,499 mature individuals remaining worldwide.
According to the zoo’s statement, Thabo arrived at the Taipei Zoo in mid-November 2024 and was introduced to the public in January 2025. On February 11, a zookeeper noticed a wound on Thabo’s right foot, prompting treatment with oral medication and daily cleaning. However, Thabo’s refusal to take the medication and its avoidance of zookeepers hindered progress.
As additional lumps appeared on its body, Thabo’s condition deteriorated further, exacerbated by a cold air mass and significant day-to-night temperature swings—conditions vastly different from the stable, warm climate of Singapore to which Thabo was accustomed.
On Sunday, the zoo’s care team established an emergency unit for round-the-clock monitoring, but Thabo’s health continued to decline. Rising white blood cell counts, muscle index, and indicators of liver and kidney dysfunction signaled a losing battle. An autopsy conducted by a veterinary team from National Taiwan University later confirmed malnutrition and infection as the causes of death.
Tsao said the zoo will conduct a thorough investigation into Thabo’s death to assess whether environmental factors at the facility pose risks to other animals. The zoo also plans to review and improve its care procedures moving forward.
Thabo’s passing marks a somber moment for conservation efforts, given its lineage tied to Moo Deng’s family, and underscores the challenges of caring for endangered species in captivity.
