CHONBURI: TikTok has awarded the ‘Video of the Year’ prize to the caretaker of Moo Deng, a popular pygmy hippo, from Khao Kheow Open Zoo. The award was accepted by Mr. Arpol Nuntee, also known as Benz, who is a zookeeper and manager at the zoo. This recognition came after a viral video clip showing Moo Deng in various poses captured the hearts of viewers worldwide.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Arpol expressed his excitement over the award, stating that it was a unique experience for him to be recognized in this way. He thanked TikTok for selecting his video and expressed gratitude for the votes that helped him win. In a creative twist, Mr. Arpol also played a pre-recorded AI-generated clip of Moo Deng thanking everyone who contributed to the video’s success.

While Mr. Arpol attended the awards ceremony, Khao Kheow Open Zoo’s director, Mr. Narongwit Chodchoi, took on an unexpected duty. A post on the Facebook page ‘Kha Moo and the Gang’ showed Mr. Narongwit cleaning the hippo pond, accompanied by his m
other, Jona. The post humorously noted that Mr. Narongwit was voted to clean the pond, allowing Mr. Arpol to attend the ceremony.

The lighthearted post quickly gained traction online, with many users playfully teasing Mr. Narongwit. He took the jest in stride, expressing his happiness over Mr. Arpol’s achievement, which he believes brings positive recognition to the zoo.

On the day of the awards, the ‘Kha Moo and the Gang’ page shared pictures of Moo Deng meeting various celebrities, both human and animal, at the event. Mr. Arpol, who manages the page, had previously expressed his ambition to make the newborn pygmy hippo famous when he was hired as a permanent employee at the zoo. With the viral success of Moo Deng’s video, it seems Mr. Arpol has achieved his goal. The page also reported that the zoo attracted 299,819 visitors in October.