Chiengmai Night Safari

[Guest guest]

http://thailand.prd.go.th/the_focus_view.php?id=604

 

Note the photo of the gorillas on the web site. The press release was

issued by the Office of the Thai Prime Minister on 17 February 2005. We

have heard rumors that Safari World may be closing and maybe the 100+

orangutans acquired by Safari World will end up at this place should this

be true.

 

Any input from people with information about what's going on would be

appreciated. It appears that this " night safari " is a government-run place

that will be able to issue its own permits. SM.

 

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The newest zoo in Thailand, Chiang Mai Night Safari Zoo, will open for the

public on Songkran Festival Day, 13 April 2005. This zoo is located near a

botanical garden in Mae Hia Subdistrict, Muang District, Chiang Mai

Province. The construction work at the park is nearly complete

 

At the initial stage of planning, it looks as if the implementation and

administration of the Night Safari Zoo will be handled as a non-profit

venture by the government agencies under royal decree. It is expected that

the park will attract two million visitors annually, and, when complete,

the park will create jobs for at least 300 local people.

 

The National Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department and the

Zoological Park Organization will supply more than 1,700 animals to the

zoo. In addition to these, Kenya has agreed to send 300 animals

representing about 30 species native to East Africa to the night safari

park. The animals include lions, rhinoceros, and African elephants.

Australia has also agreed to send the zoo 40 animals representing eight

species from the island continent.

 

This nightspot is to be another international tourist attraction and will

showcase Thailand's wildlife, while also providing greater public awareness

on the preservation of natural habitats.

 

The night safari park would be included in the national tourism promotion

plan. Both Thai and foreign visitors would be charged the same for entry,

800 baht per adult and 400 baht per child.

 

In Chiang Mai Zoo, adjoining the safari park, the star attractions are two

pandas, named Thewan and Thewi, on loan from the Wu Long Panda Conservation

and Research Center in the People's Republic of China. The pandas were

brought to Chiang Mai on 12 October 2003 in order to strengthen the

long-standing relationship between China and Thailand.

 

With these two draws for visitors, northern Thailand has even more reasons

for people from Thailand and all over the world to pay a visit and

experience the beauty and fascination of the region.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Shirley McGreal, Chairwoman

International Primate Protection League

POB 766

Summerville SC 29484, USA

Ph. 843-871-2280: Fax: 843-871-7988: www.ippl.org

 

" Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because

we build cars and buildings and start wars etc...and

all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish

and play around. Dolphins believe that they are

smarter for exactly the same reasons. "

--Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy