Why we cant get enough of viral baby hippo Moo Deng, according to a Windsor psychologist [Video]

Baby hippo, Moo Deng, has become a viral sensation, with her adorable photos and videos flooding social media and even earning a skit on Saturday Night Live.

But why are people so captivated by her?

CTV News spoke with Dr. Andrea Dinardo, a Windsor-based psychologist and St. Clair College instructor, to break down the psychological reasons behind the worldwide obsession.

“The first time I saw her, I instantly melted,” Dinardo said.

“You just stop, and you just be there with her.”

Dr. Andrea Dinardo, a Windsor-based psychologist, sat down with CTV Windsor’s Travis Fortnum on Oct. 1, 2024. (Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor)

According to Dinardo, our fascination with Moo Deng goes beyond just cuteness. It taps into a universal human instinct.

“Babies and animals are universal,” she explained.

“In a world that we’re having all this information come to us. This is material that everybody can relate to.”