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Cover
story
: 25 Jan
05
Vol. 21 No. 20 |
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By
Dararai |
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| Situated
in the tropical zone, Thailand is rich in wildlife.
When you go trekking in a jungle or a national park,
chances are that you will meet some of them in their
natural habitat. Even though you don't have much
time to do so, you still will be able to experience
first hand some wild animals' life without having
to arrange an arduous trip to forests. How? That's
easy. Let's go to one of the zoos scattered around
the country. The trip can be finished within a day.
Below you will find a brief introduction to five
zoos under the responsibility of the Zoological
Park Organization of Thailand. |
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| Dusit
Zoo |
The
first zoo of Thailand
This place used to be part of the Suan Dusit Royal
Park of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868-1910),
which was known as "Khao Din Wana". In
the reign of King Ananda or Rama VIII (1935-1946)
in 1938, the government of Field Marshal P. Pibulsonggram
asked for royal permission to turn the site into
a zoo for public recreation. King Ananda granted
the request and gave some spotted deer together
with a few other animals to inhabit here and named
this zoo "Dusit". |
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| Situated
in Dusit District in the heart of Bangkok about
30 minutes drive from the Grand Palace, it is the
only place in the world where an albino barking
deer is taken care of. It features a nocturnal animals
exhibit, white tigers and a bird aviary with flamingoes
as its star. |
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An albino barking deer
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| At
present, this 118-rai (47.2 acres) site houses 2,410
animals. The total number of visitors in 2003 was
1,915,770. And as it is set amidst natural surroundings
with a large lake, Dusit Zoo provides pedalo services
for visitors as well. It opens daily from 08:00
to 18:00 hrs. Tel: 0 2282 7111-3 Fax: 0 2282 9245. |
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Khao
Kheow Open Zoo
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| This
zoo has been opened to the public since 1978. It
is located in the Khao Kheow wildlife sanctuary,
Chom Phu Hill, Chon Buri province (81 km from Bangkok).
Covering a total area of 5,000 rais (2,000 acres),
the zoo is the habitat for more than 8,000 animals,
most of which are various kinds of birds. The highlights
of the zoo are: |
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The "Night Safari" programme in which
travellers will go on an autotram to explore the
forest under the moonlight for 3.5  kilometres.
(Night Safari Opening hours: 19:00-21:00 hrs. Daily). |
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•The walk-through aviary
where exotic birds proudly present their elegance.
In addition, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo provides
adventurous activities like camping, walk rally,
bird watching and nature expedition.
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| In
2003, the number of visitors was 1,059,806. It opens
from 08:00 to 18:00 hrs. Tel: 0 3829 8188-9 Fax:
0 3829 8272 |
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| Chiang
Mai Zoo |
This
is the first and only zoo in the northern Thailand.
Being part of Doi Suthep-Doi Pui National Park,
Chiang Mai Zoo shares the same verdant vegetation
with the park.The zoo occupies a large hillside
area measuring 531 rais or 212.4 acres. |
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| Established
in 1974, the zoo is located at the foothill of Mount
Doi Suthep. Two giant pandas from Sichuan, China
are the star of the zoo. |
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| "Must
visit" spots here are: Penguin and Cape Fur
Seal Exhibitions. A camping area is also available. |
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| Nowadays,
up to 7,404 animals live here with a total of 611,634
visitors last year. It opens from 08:00 to 18:00
hrs. Tel: 0 5322 1179 Fax: 0 5322 2283 |
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| Nakhon
Ratchasima Zoo |
| You
can witness leopards living in nature here in Thailand.
In Nakhon Ratchasima's 545 rai (218 acres) area,
visitors will be fascinated by the ways of life
of these wild African creatures. There are 1,188
animals living in the zoo. Moreover, the Jurassic
Park here is the star, especially for kids as there
stand huge replicas of various species of dinosaurs.
In addition, the "Night Safari" programme
is available here from 18:00-22:00 hrs. The zoo
is situated 13 km off Nakhon Ratchasima town. It
opens from 08:00 to 18:00 hrs. Tel: 0 4435 7355-6
Fax: 0 4435 7354. |
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| Songkhla
Zoo |
| In
1989, this 911-rai (364.4 acres) Songkhla Zoo was
set up with an aim to be a breeding centre of Asian
tapirs which were becoming rare. Up till now there
have been four kinds of conserved animal viz. brow-antlered
deer, Sumatran serows, Fea's barking deer and Asian
tapirs. The zoo opens from 08:00 to 18:00 hrs. Tel:
0 7433 6038-9 Fax: 0 7433 6040. |
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| If
you are interested in any of these zoos, you can
visit http://www.zoothailand.org or Tourism Authority
of Thailand (TAT) at tel: 0 2250 5500, www.tourismthailand.org,
for more information, or consult your travel agent
or hotel concierge to arrange a personal trip for
you. |
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addition, zoos run by the private sector are in
abundance all around the country as following: |
Bangkok: Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm &
Zoo, Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo
Kanchanaburi: Safari Park
Pattaya (Chon Buri): Pattaya Crocodile Farm,
The Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile
Farm, Sriracha Tiger Zoo
Phuket: Phuket Butterfly Garden and Insect
World, Phuket Zoo. |
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