On 14/7, tourists and football fans gathered around the enclosure of Moo Deng, a star hippo at Khao Kheow Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand, to watch the animal predict the winners of the two World Cup 2026 semi-final matches.

Narongwit Chodchoi, the zoo director and Moo Deng's caretaker, prepared watermelon halves representing the four semi-finalist teams. The teams' names were carved into the watermelon flesh, and their flags were stuck into the rinds.

Zoo officials displayed two watermelon halves representing France and Spain before placing them on the wet concrete floor inside Moo Deng's shallow pool area. These two halves were placed a short distance apart, and the animal would predict the winner by choosing to eat one of them.

Moo Deng the hippo predicts World Cup 2026 finalists on 14/7. *Video: Khaosod*

Upon being released into the area, Moo Deng went straight for the watermelon half with the French flag and ate it, predicting that France would defeat Spain to reach the final. Moo Deng's choice prompted cheers and smiles from the spectators outside the enclosure.

Next, the animal was presented with two watermelon halves representing England and Argentina. While another hippo ate the watermelon half with the Argentinian flag, Moo Deng moved towards the half with the English flag, predicting England would win the remaining semi-final to face France in the final.

This is purely a fun prediction. The zoo emphasized that there is no guarantee the actual results on the field will match Moo Deng's choices, and affirmed the event was not organized to encourage or support any form of betting. The activity's purpose is to create a fun atmosphere for visitors and to promote the zoo.

It is also part of the animal enrichment program, where food and other forms of stimulation are used to encourage movement, exercise, and natural behavior.

Moo Deng the hippo selects the watermelon half with the French flag on 14/7. *Photo: Nation Thailand*

Additionally, this activity can help reduce stress and provide animals with a diet suitable for their nutritional needs, according to Narongwit.

Moo Deng became a social media sensation when its caretaker posted daily videos of the animal's interesting life online. It belongs to the pygmy hippo species, which is one-third the size of common hippos.

Moo Deng is very famous in the US and was even mentioned in a sketch by comedian Bowen Yang on Saturday Night Live. It previously accurately predicted that US President Donald Trump would win the 2024 election.

By Pham Giang (According to Straits Times, Khaosod)