Why the internet is going crazy for a baby hippo

What’s small, grey, chubby, and a little cranky? It’s the internet’s latest star, a baby pygmy hippo called Moo Deng. Why is this animal so popular?

Words:

• When you have social media clout you have a following or influence on a social media channel.
• A pygmy hippo is a type of hippo (nijlpaard) that’s smaller than other hippos, even as an adult.
• When you chronicle something, it means to share a story about it by capturing it, for example by writing it down of filming it.
• A zookeeper (or a keeper for short) works in a zoo and takes care of the animals.
• An animal is endangered when there aren’t many left of them, and they in danger of dying out.
• Poaching is the act of hunting animals to sell parts of them, like their fur, skin, bones, etc.

Video:

Watch the video from start to finish.

1. What was Moo Deng’s first video about?

2. Which statement is not true?

A: Moo Deng has increased the number of visitors that come to the zoo.

B: Moo Deng’s zookeeper knew that Moo Deng would be popular online.

C: People want to see Moo Deng in real life.

3. What change did the zoo make after Moo Deng became popular online? Choose the correct words.

They had to monitor/limit the amount of time visitors/keepers could come to her viewing area/habitat because the lines/videos were too long.

4. Why are pygmy hippos endangered? Tick all the correct answers.

A. Because of the loss of their natural habitat.

B. Because predators catch them in the wild.

C. Because they can’t find food in their natural habitat.

D. Because they have become too used to people.

E. Because they are hunted by poachers.

5. Watch the video again. Connect the numbers to the right answer.

A: 2 months	​​1. What time one visitor left home to see Moo Deng.
B: 20 million	​​2. How many pygmy hippos are left in the wild.
C: 15 days ​​	3. How old Moo Deng is now.
D: 06:30 ​​	4. How long visitors are allowed to see Moo Deng in the weekend.
E: 5 minutes	​​5. How old Moo Deng was in her first video.
F: 2000	​​​6. How many views Moo Deng’s first video got.

6. Why do you think Moo Deng is so popular? 

Van de makers van All Right!, Of Course! en Taalblokken Engels