Mysterious mass death at Chiang Mai Night Safari shocks Thailand

[webfact]

Chiang Mai Night Safari, a popular tourist attraction in Thailand, has faced a mysterious mass death of 13 endangered animals, a significant blow to the country’s wildlife. The casualties include a valuable white tiger, with veterinarians attributing the deaths to various causes, including natural ageing and diseases.

 

Visitors to the Chiang Mai Night Safari had expressed disappointment, reporting that the number of rare and expensive animals was significantly reduced. They lamented that the entrance fee did not justify the experience, considering the scarcity of unique wildlife.

 

The management of Chiang Mai Night Safari and the Office of Natural Resources and Environment, the supervising authority, convened a meeting to discuss the alarming situation. The veterinary team reported that in December 2023, 13 animals, including a large white tiger, had died. They attributed the tiger’s death to ageing and stated that another white tiger cub had died earlier, at less than ten months due to weak health and infection. Several other animals had also died or disappeared, allegedly due to predation by pythons, preventing the recovery of their remains.

This situation has prompted a call for the prime minister and responsible ministers to investigate the matter urgently. If left unresolved, the dwindling wildlife population could tarnish the reputation of Chiang Mai Night Safari, renowned as one of the world’s top tourist attractions. The Safari currently attracts no less than 2,000 visitors each day.

 

Full story: [source name + source link] 2024-01-10

 

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by Nattapong Westwood

Photo courtesy of Khao Sod

[KhunLA]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

This situation has prompted a call for the prime minister and responsible ministers to investigate the matter urgently. If left unresolved, the dwindling wildlife population could tarnish the reputation of Chiang Mai Night Safari, renowned as one of the world’s top tourist attractions. The Safari currently attracts no less than 2,000 visitors each day.

Is that even possible.  As when first opened, after viewing the exotic animals, you could dine on exotic animals ... or so I read in the news.   Thankfully, hopefully they stopped that practice.

 

Please don't visit zoos, wild animals belong in the wild ... IMHO ... if you want to see, download Atterberg's excellent 'Planet' series.

 

By visiting, supporting zoos, all you do is perpetuate the continued animal abuse ... IMHO

[ezzra]

Couple of animals dying it could be somewhat expected but 13 at the same time? neglect, malfeasance, derelict of job

or just simple carelessness, an investigation IS called for that's for sure...

[KannikaP]

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

renowned as one of the world’s top tourist attractions.

Hmmm where shall I go, Grand Canyon, Taj Mahal, Machu Pichu, Pyramids, Eiffel Tower.............

Nah Chiag Mai Zoo        555

[KannikaP]

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

They lamented that the entrance fee did not justify the experience, considering the scarcity of unique wildlife.

Then put the price for Thais up to the same as for falangs.

[Hawaiian]

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Hmmm where shall I go, Grand Canyon, Taj Mahal, Machu Pichu, Pyramids, Eiffel Tower.............

Nah Chiag Mai Zoo        555

My favorite is the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park.  While stationed in San Diego during the 1960's I often spent my weekends there.  Besides the zoo, there are several excellent museums.  Was very affordable with my military discount.  Now the entry fee is as much as I made for a month's pay in the Navy.  That was 60 years ago.

Today, the zoo alone attracts 11,000 visitors a day. 

 

 

[Hawaiian]

27 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Is that even possible.  As when first opened, after viewing the exotic animals, you could dine on exotic animals ... or so I read in the news.   Thankfully, hopefully they stopped that practice.

 

Please don't visit zoos, wild animals belong in the wild ... IMHO ... if you want to see, download Atterberg's excellent 'Planet' series.

 

By visiting, supporting zoos, all you do is perpetuate the continued animal abuse ... IMHO

I feel the same way you do.  Many zoos today have fewer animals because there are no cages with the animals living in enclosed areas similar to their natural habitat.  San Diego Zoo is well known for its captive breeding program for endangered species.  Many are released back into the wild.  Where I live, there is a bird sanctuary sponsored by the zoo for rare, endangered Hawaiian birds. 

We also have similar programs for sea turtles which release the young turtles in an annual event for the public.  Fees to the events help to support the programs.

[worgeordie]

last time i was there a zookeeper was severely beating a Hippo with a big bamboo stick,

and i was thinking ,he should never turn his back on the Hippo or it will have him.

 

 

' Chiang Mai Night Safari, renowned as one of the world’s top tourist attractions.' no its not,

like saying Pattaya is a World famous family resort , as they do .

 

regards worgeordie

 

[bendejo]

Some animal parts are valuable for medical purposes.  E.g. tiger weenie broth supposedly does wonders for the consumer's weenie.  Gets a pretty penny, so I'm told.

 

[Thailand]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

Then put the price for Thais up to the same as for falangs.

 

Adult foreigner THB 1200

Child THB 600

 

Adult Thai THB 300

Child THB 150

 

4 Times the local price for foreigners.

Went once years ago, never been since. Not the way to see animals.

[KannikaP]

29 minutes ago, bendejo said:

Some animal parts are valuable for medical purposes.  E.g. tiger weenie broth supposedly does wonders for the consumer's weenie.  Gets a pretty penny, so I'm told.

 

Allegedly. And only in third World countries.

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Is that even possible.  As when first opened, after viewing the exotic animals, you could dine on exotic animals ... or so I read in the news.   Thankfully, hopefully they stopped that practice.

 

Please don't visit zoos, wild animals belong in the wild ... IMHO ... if you want to see, download Atterberg's excellent 'Planet' series.

 

By visiting, supporting zoos, all you do is perpetuate the continued animal abuse ... IMHO

The latest Attenbourgh series is phenomenal in 4K.

[Tropicalevo]

20 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Not the way to see animals.

Unfortunately for most, it is the only way for them to see animals - live.

I am not condoning zoos, but the alterative is say, 10,000 USD to go to one of the African countries.

[Hawaiian]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

Unfortunately for most, it is the only way for them to see animals - live.

I am not condoning zoos, but the alterative is say, 10,000 USD to go to one of the African countries.

Still not an excuse to treat animals inhumanely like many zoos do.

[Ken444]

2 hours ago, Thailand said:

 

Adult foreigner THB 1200

Child THB 600

 

Adult Thai THB 300

Child THB 150

 

4 Times the local price for foreigners.

Went once years ago, never been since. Not the way to see animals.

I have a Thai Pink ID - Thai prices for me every time lol

[Ken444]

 "rare and expensive animals "  Always comes down to money.

[Guderian]

That's not as interesting as I'd hoped when I saw this in my inbox. I thought the two headlines might be related, lol...

 

[spidermike007]

They attributed the tiger’s death to ageing and stated that another white tiger cub had died earlier, at less than ten months due to weak health and infection. Several other animals had also died or disappeared, allegedly due to predation by pythons, preventing the recovery of their remains.

 

All within one month. Huh? Purely coincidental? Nope. Don't thing so. Neglect? Poor care? Maintenance issues? 

 

Deflect. Never, ever take responsibility for your actions. 

[Bangkok Barry]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Chiang Mai Night Safari, a popular tourist attraction in Thailand, has faced a mysterious mass death of 13 endangered animals, a significant blow to the country’s wildlife. The casualties include a valuable white tiger, with veterinarians attributing the deaths to various causes, including natural ageing and diseases.

 

The Thaiger's top reporter strikes again. He never disappoints. Has The Thaiger no idea how ridiculous they look, publishing such careless journalism?

[Bangkok Barry]

12 minutes ago, Ken444 said:

I have a Thai Pink ID - Thai prices for me every time lol

 

So you support dual pricing then?

[prakhonchai nick]

Misleading headline.  I read it as all 13 deaths had occurred overnight, not during last december!

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Unfortunately for most, it is the only way for them to see animals - live.

I am not condoning zoos, but the alterative is say, 10,000 USD to go to one of the African countries.

And if I want to see penguins or polar bears???

[Wildliferescue]

13 Deaths in a month is not a "MYSTERIOUS MASS DEATH" issue, especially not when some died of old age or were eaten by pythons. Strange however is it that so many "DISAPPEARED", we have seen that before in the SONGKHLA ZOO and that didn't end well, now did it?

 

Chiangmai Night Safari is far from a famous or even nice attraction, it is run as a tourist attraction with zero conservation projects, no proper education program and started many years ago with the plans to even have a restaurant where people could eat wildlife. The place charges foreigner 4 times the local price, the animals are under bad care and don't get proper nutrition. Chiangmai already had a zoo and that should have been enough. 

[shackleton]

Yes a Misleading headline reading it you would assume mass deaths happened at the same time 😱

When in fact it was over a period of  time  and the animals died of different reasons old-age sick ect 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

This situation has prompted a call for the prime minister and responsible ministers to investigate the matter urgently. If left unresolved, the dwindling wildlife population could tarnish the reputation of Chiang Mai Night Safari, renowned as one of the world’s top tourist attractions

Really?

[brianthainess]

 

Mysterious mass death *OF ANIMALS* at Chiang Mai Night Safari shocks Thailand

There fixed it

Phew what a misleading headline AGAIN  at first I thought it was a mass death of tourists.

[The Fugitive]

5 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Is that even possible.  As when first opened, after viewing the exotic animals, you could dine on exotic animals ... or so I read in the news.   Thankfully, hopefully they stopped that practice.

 

Please don't visit zoos, wild animals belong in the wild ... IMHO ... if you want to see, download Atterberg's excellent 'Planet' series.

 

By visiting, supporting zoos, all you do is perpetuate the continued animal abuse ... IMHO

There is an argument that if certain species were not 'protected' in zoo's then the poachers would wipe them out. Concerning size of enclosurers; I visited Buenos Aires zoo and was most impressed with the areas available to the larger animals. You almost needed binoculars to see the giraffes up close!

[Jackbenimble]

4 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Then put the price for Thais up to the same as for falangs.

when Thais are paid the same as falangs you'll have my support on that one. Util then dont be stingy, you can afford it......clearly. 

[Lacessit]

5 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Is that even possible.  As when first opened, after viewing the exotic animals, you could dine on exotic animals ... or so I read in the news.   Thankfully, hopefully they stopped that practice.

 

Please don't visit zoos, wild animals belong in the wild ... IMHO ... if you want to see, download Atterberg's excellent 'Planet' series.

 

By visiting, supporting zoos, all you do is perpetuate the continued animal abuse ... IMHO

Maybe it's just me, but all animals in captivity look sad to me.

[kwan]

Suicide !