Can’t escape her charm: A man taking photos of Moo Deng’s sculptures at a public park in Bangkok; (below) Moo Deng and her mother Jona. — AFP/AP
Moo Deng, the celebrity baby pygmy hippopotamus at a Thai zoo, has just received a huge Christmas present from one of the most influential figures in the crypto world.
Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of the Ethereum blockchain platform, “adopted” the beloved Moo Deng through a generous donation of 10mil Thai baht (RM1.3mil) to the zoo she calls home, calling it the perfect way to show his gratitude to Thailand.
In a Facebook post on Dec 26, Chonburi province’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo thanked Buterin for joining its wildlife sponsorship programme, which allows participants to “adopt” an animal through donations, which go towards their food, medication and general upkeep over a period of time. The zoo also published a letter written by the multimillionaire to its director.
Buterin said he was “deeply impressed” by the zoo’s commitment to animal welfare, education and outreach following his visit there in November, adding that he was excited to hear of its improvement plans.
He described his donation as a gesture of friendship to Thailand, following a series of events organised by the Ethereum community across the country in recent months, which culminated in the “great success” of the Devcon SEA conference for blockchain enthusiasts in November.
“This could not have happened without the warmth and kindness of Thailand and our Thai organisers,” he said.
“What better way to do that than through a Christmas present to someone who is dear to all Thai people, Moo Deng, and who has become one of the most unexpected and important Thai celebrities on the world stage.
“More importantly, we want to support her family and friends, Kha Moo and the Gang, as well as her human family, everyone at Khao Kheow Open Zoo.” — The Straits Times/ANN
