It seems like every few months, a new animal captures the internet’s heart. Recently, we’ve seen Moo Deng, the adorable baby pygmy hippo, and Pesto, the fluffy king penguin chick, steal the spotlight. These viral animals, with their expressive faces and amusing antics, have garnered millions of views across social media platforms, turning them into internet darlings almost overnight. While their rise to fame might seem simple—cute videos and pictures shared across social platforms—the underlying reasons for their appeal touch on deeper aspects of human behavior and psychology.
Cuteness: More Than Meets the Eye
At first glance, the allure of viral animals seems obvious: they’re undeniably cute. Moo Deng, with her chubby body and mischievous demeanor, looks like she’s been plucked straight from an animated movie. Pesto, meanwhile, has an awkward, fluffy charm, making him twice the size of his parents but no less endearing.
But there’s more to their popularity than just physical appeal. Scientists suggest that animals like Moo Deng and Pesto engage something called “baby schema”—a set of infantile traits that trigger nurturing instincts in humans. It’s why we feel an almost irresistible pull to protect and care for them.
Psychologist Daniel Kruger explains that these animals share traits with human babies: oversized eyes, round faces, and clumsy movements. Moo Deng’s waddling and tendency to bite her keepers—while playful—mirror the behavior of an infant testing boundaries. Pesto, with his enormous fluff and insatiable appetite for fish, brings out the same protective instincts. “Moo Deng pushes all our buttons,” Kruger says. These features, which spark feelings of affection and care in us, are hardwired into our biology.
But it’s not just the way these animals look that makes us love them. It’s also what they represent. Amid the stresses of daily life, viral animals provide a much-needed escape. In a world of constant uncertainty, these creatures offer us something simple, delightful, and relatable.
The Relatable Emotions Behind Viral Animals
If there’s one thing that sets viral animals apart from the endless stream of cute content online, it’s their ability to express emotions that resonate with viewers. Moo Deng, for example, isn’t just cute—she’s sassy and a little irritable. Her expressions of frustration, often caught on camera as she playfully bites her zookeeper, are amusing because they echo a feeling many of us know too well. Life can be stressful, and Moo Deng’s antics are a playful reminder that it’s okay to feel a bit overwhelmed sometimes.
Pesto, on the other hand, has captured the internet’s attention not just because of his oversized body but because of how much he enjoys food. His fans love to watch him waddle around, consuming an almost comical number of fish each day—about 30, to be precise.
Pesto’s love for food, combined with his fluffy, awkward appearance, makes him relatable to anyone who finds joy in eating or indulging in simple pleasures. As a fan of Pesto might say, “He’s all of us on sushi night.”
These viral animals, with their exaggerated personalities, provide comfort by validating our own emotions. As communications expert Matthew Grizzard points out, we tend to be drawn to characters or figures that reflect our own experiences. Moo Deng’s exasperated antics and Pesto’s voracious appetite offer a reflection of the human experience—one that is full of frustration, joy, and indulgence.
The Role of Escapism and Stress Relief
Beyond their relatability, viral animals like Moo Deng and Pesto serve another important function: they help us escape. In a world increasingly dominated by stressful news cycles and personal challenges, a few moments spent watching a baby hippo splash in a pond or a fluffy penguin chick waddle clumsily can offer a surprising amount of relief.
Research backs this up. A 2019 study by the University of Leeds found that watching cute animal videos significantly reduced anxiety and lowered blood pressure in students preparing for exams.
The ability of viral animals to soothe and comfort is undeniable. Whether it’s Moo Deng’s playful nips at her zookeeper’s legs or Pesto’s oversized fluff tumbling around his aquarium, their innocent behavior offers a break from the pressures of reality.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, many people turned to pets for companionship and comfort, with pet adoptions spiking as individuals sought out ways to cope with heightened stress levels. Viral animals like Moo Deng and Pesto tap into this same desire for comfort, offering a digital version of the emotional support that pets can provide. Their videos serve as brief but effective distractions from the outside world, reminding us that joy can be found in the simplest of moments.
Beyond Cuteness: Conservation Awareness
While the cuteness and stress-relieving qualities of viral animals are often at the forefront, there’s another important aspect to consider: the role these animals play in raising awareness about endangered species. Moo Deng, for instance, isn’t just an adorable baby hippo—she’s part of a species that is endangered. Pygmy hippos, native to West Africa, have seen their population dwindle to fewer than 2,500 individuals in the wild. Habitat destruction, hunting, and human encroachment have put them at risk of extinction.
As viral animals gain popularity, they often bring attention to the environmental challenges their species face.
Stephanie Preston, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, highlights that the more exposure people have to animals like Moo Deng, the more likely they are to care about conservation efforts. “Moo Deng’s cuteness makes her easy to love,” Preston says, “but even not-so-cute animals deserve our attention and care.”
The visibility of viral animals can spark conversations about conservation and inspire people to take action. In Moo Deng’s case, her popularity may lead to greater efforts to protect pygmy hippos and their natural habitats. Conservation organizations like Fauna & Flora International are already using her fame to raise awareness about the species’ plight, hoping that the internet’s love for Moo Deng will translate into meaningful support for preservation efforts.
The Inevitable Evolution of Viral Fame
As much as we love viral animals, their time in the spotlight is often fleeting. Moo Deng may be the internet’s current darling, but we’ve seen similar creatures rise to fame before—only to fade from public view once their initial cuteness wanes. Grumpy Cat, Boo the Pomeranian, and other viral animals have come and gone, their popularity following the predictable cycle of internet trends.
Eventually, Moo Deng will grow up, and her infant-like features will give way to a more adult appearance. While adult animals can still be cute, they often lose the traits that trigger our strongest nurturing instincts. However, as Kruger points out, Moo Deng may still have an advantage. Adult hippos, even pygmy ones, retain their round, bouncy shapes, which means Moo Deng might continue to capture hearts even as she matures.
Pesto, too, will eventually shed his fluffy down and become a sleek, full-grown king penguin. But while his time as a viral sensation may be short-lived, his impact—like Moo Deng’s—will last longer.
The joy, comfort, and awareness they’ve brought to millions of people worldwide will remain, even after their viral moments have passed.
Why We Love Them
At the end of the day, our fascination with viral animals like Moo Deng and Pesto goes beyond their undeniable cuteness. These animals offer us an escape from the stresses of life, provide moments of joy and connection, and even raise awareness about important conservation efforts. They reflect parts of ourselves—our frustrations, our joys, our love for the simple pleasures in life—and remind us that, sometimes, the most meaningful connections can come from the most unexpected places.
As long as the internet continues to serve as a platform for sharing, we will always find new animals to love. Whether it’s Moo Deng splashing in her pond or Pesto waddling after another meal, these viral creatures will continue to capture our hearts, offering us a brief but much-needed respite from the challenges of everyday life.