Elephants, Birds, Cable Cars: Chiang Mai Safari

[george]

Elephants, birds, cable cars to join Chiang Mai safari

CHIANG MAI: -- Three recreation projects with a combined investment of Bt3 billion are being developed in Chiang Mai under theme “Chiang Mai World”, designed to compete with man-made tourist destinations in Hong Kong and Singapore and to establish Chiang Mai as a new regional tourism hub.

The projects are the Chiang Mai Night Safari, the Elephant Park and Bird Tunnel and the Cable Line.

Pisal Wasuwanich, director of the Chiang Mai Night Safari, said Chiang Mai World would be similar to famous parks in Turkey, Switzerland, the USA and Australia which attract millions of tourists each year.

“This is a new product that we need to compete with neighbouring countries including the newly opened Hong Kong Disney Land and Casino complexes in Singapore. The project will also to draw more local people to Chiang Mai,” said Pisal.

The Chiang Mai Night Safari is located in Doi Suthep–Pui National Park covering an area of 819 rai. Construction work is almost complete, and the park is scheduled to open on November 16. It has cost Bt1.2 billion.

It is expected to attract 1.2 million tourists a year or 15 per cent of international tourists travelling to Chiang Mai, and to generate revenue of Bt400 million a year.

Admission is Bt400 for tourists and Bt250 for locals. However, Pisal said that local people would be the biggest proportion of visitors.

Design and construction consultancy was by Singapore firm Bernard Harrison and Friends, which also manages Singapore’s Night Safari. The expedition features three areas, a Predator Prowl Ride, a Jaguar Trail and a Savannah Safari. There are now about 1,500 animals, and more will be added before the opening date.

The Night Safari will also have local produce shops, elephant rides and tour buses.

Pisal said the Elephant Park and Bird Tunnel would be finished by the end of 2006 and located next to the night safari.

It is expected to cost Bt700 million to develop the 600-rai area.

There will be more than 600 elephants, which will make it the country’s largest elephant park.

The Bird Tunnel will be 500 metres long, making it the world’s longest, and feature various species of birds and butterflies.

The park plans to give tourists two viewing options, tents and tree houses.

The Cable Line will have five stations and link the Night Safari and Elephant Park. It is expected to cost Bt1.2 billion and will soon be tendered to the private sector.

--The Nation 2005-09-26

[highonthai]

Hope they spent some of that money on good fences! I live very close and don't want to see a tiger walking past the house....

[Galong]

Oh, great... 600 more elephants to suffer at the hands of violent mahouts.

I'm sure there will be plenty of baby elephants too. Imagine being a baby elephant and spending your entire life being beaten with canes or sticks. Imagine also not being able to spend your time with your mother, which is what baby elephants get to do in the wild.

I was in Chiang Mai last week and saw a mahout beating a baby elephant. So I guess (as this was my first time to visit the north) that mahouts throughout Thailand are all into beating defenseless elephants.

[Diablo Bob]

Oh, great... 600 more elephants to suffer at the hands of violent mahouts. 

I'm sure there will be plenty of baby elephants too.  Imagine being a baby elephant and spending your entire life being beaten with canes or sticks.  Imagine also not being able to spend your time with your mother, which is what baby elephants get to do in the wild.

I was in Chiang Mai last week and saw a mahout beating a baby elephant.  So I guess (as this was my first time to visit the north) that mahouts throughout Thailand are all into beating defenseless elephants.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Violent Mahouts! That happens sometimes.......

Violent elephants! That happens some times.......

I remember as a child learning to ride horses at the Royal Bangkok Riding Academy (Mrs. Rhodes) and being issued a whip!

Maybe with an animal as large and thick skinned as an elephant, you need to use something more substancial to get their attention! If you abuse this implement they become violent!

Don't blame all the Thai Mahouts for a single incident!

Go to the Queens Elephant park and see how they are babied...... Look at the laws in Thailand which dictate how an elephant will be treated. We even have a law saying they must wear (Tail) lights after dark......

Now go to Mayanmar/Burma or Laos or India etc. and do the same....... Now go to Africa and see how you can still kill an elephant, not so in Thailand.

Step down from your soap box and open your eyes! The elephants in Thailand have it made in the shade man.......

One incident doesn't warrant the condemnation of the mahouts.

[kerryk]

Elephants, birds, cable cars to join Chiang Mai safari

It is expected to attract 1.2 million tourists a year or 15 per cent of international tourists travelling to Chiang Mai, and to generate revenue of Bt400 million a year.

The park plans to give tourists two viewing options, tents and tree houses.

--The Nation 2005-09-26

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am dense I know, but what does the above mean? An additional 1.2 million tourists? And how are 1.2 million people going to fit into tents and tree houses?

[kerryk]

Oh, great... 600 more elephants to suffer at the hands of violent mahouts. 

I'm sure there will be plenty of baby elephants too.  Imagine being a baby elephant and spending your entire life being beaten with canes or sticks.  Imagine also not being able to spend your time with your mother, which is what baby elephants get to do in the wild.

I was in Chiang Mai last week and saw a mahout beating a baby elephant.  So I guess (as this was my first time to visit the north) that mahouts throughout Thailand are all into beating defenseless elephants.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Violent Mahouts! That happens sometimes.......

Violent elephants! That happens some times.......

I remember as a child learning to ride horses at the Royal Bangkok Riding Academy (Mrs. Rhodes) and being issued a whip!

Maybe with an animal as large and thick skinned as an elephant, you need to use something more substancial to get their attention! If you abuse this implement they become violent!

Don't blame all the Thai Mahouts for a single incident!

Go to the Queens Elephant park and see how they are babied...... Look at the laws in Thailand which dictate how an elephant will be treated. We even have a law saying they must wear (Tail) lights after dark......

Now go to Mayanmar/Burma or Laos or India etc. and do the same....... Now go to Africa and see how you can still kill an elephant, not so in Thailand.

Step down from your soap box and open your eyes! The elephants in Thailand have it made in the shade man.......

One incident doesn't warrant the condemnation of the mahouts.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have to agree with you Bob. I have never had to control an elephant but I have had to control pigs. An elephant has to have much tougher skin than a pig. To get a pig to do anything (and they are very intellegent) you have to use a cattle prod or a pig slapper. And a pig slapper (metal strip with leather outside) sounds and looks like you are beating the heck out of the pig but it is the only way to get them to move when they don't want to.

[Diablo Bob]

Elephants, birds, cable cars to join Chiang Mai safari

It is expected to attract 1.2 million tourists a year or 15 per cent of international tourists travelling to Chiang Mai, and to generate revenue of Bt400 million a year.

The park plans to give tourists two viewing options, tents and tree houses.

--The Nation 2005-09-26

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am dense I know, but what does the above mean? An additional 1.2 million tourists? And how are 1.2 million people going to fit into tents and tree houses?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You know, until you made this response, I never considered the math......

We are looking at around 3300 tourists/day or based upon a 10 hour period of operation around 330 tourist/hour.

That is a lot of tents or tree's isn't it? Kind of detracts from the experience in my opinion!

[kerryk]

Elephants, birds, cable cars to join Chiang Mai safari

It is expected to attract 1.2 million tourists a year or 15 per cent of international tourists travelling to Chiang Mai, and to generate revenue of Bt400 million a year.

The park plans to give tourists two viewing options, tents and tree houses.

--The Nation 2005-09-26

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am dense I know, but what does the above mean? An additional 1.2 million tourists? And how are 1.2 million people going to fit into tents and tree houses?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You know, until you made this response, I never considered the math......

We are looking at around 3300 tourists/day or based upon a 10 hour period of operation around 330 tourist/hour.

That is a lot of tents or tree's isn't it? Kind of detracts from the experience in my opinion!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ya, well double or triple that because the tourists will only come in the cool season.

I just want to get in line to sell em tents!!

[p1p]

Oh, great... 600 more elephants to suffer at the hands of violent mahouts. 

I'm sure there will be plenty of baby elephants too.  Imagine being a baby elephant and spending your entire life being beaten with canes or sticks.  Imagine also not being able to spend your time with your mother, which is what baby elephants get to do in the wild.

I was in Chiang Mai last week and saw a mahout beating a baby elephant.  So I guess (as this was my first time to visit the north) that mahouts throughout Thailand are all into beating defenseless elephants.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm sorry, but the ignorance displayed in posts like this gets my blood up.

An elephant can only be trained by persuading it to do what you wish it to do. Very often the switching with bamboo that ignorant tourists regard as cruelty is nothing more than the equivalent of a scratch on the back. It kills flies and other parasites and provides a measure of relief from itching and other discomforts.

Consider the size differential. An adult Asian elephant weighs between 3,500 and 4,500 Kilogrammes. A baby is born weighing in the region of 150 Kg and, from birth, it puts on about 30 Kilos per month. Which 60 to 70Kg Mahout can get it to do something it does not want to.

Mahouts and their elephants share a deep and abiding love for each other, and generally spend the majority of their lives together. The only difficult and dangerous time is when a bull enters musth, when he needs to be secured for his, and others' safety.

[Nignoy]

Oh, great... 600 more elephants to suffer at the hands of violent mahouts. 

I'm sure there will be plenty of baby elephants too.  Imagine being a baby elephant and spending your entire life being beaten with canes or sticks.  Imagine also not being able to spend your time with your mother, which is what baby elephants get to do in the wild.

I was in Chiang Mai last week and saw a mahout beating a baby elephant.  So I guess (as this was my first time to visit the north) that mahouts throughout Thailand are all into beating defenseless elephants.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Violent Mahouts! That happens sometimes.......

Violent elephants! That happens some times.......

I remember as a child learning to ride horses at the Royal Bangkok Riding Academy (Mrs. Rhodes) and being issued a whip!

Maybe with an animal as large and thick skinned as an elephant, you need to use something more substancial to get their attention! If you abuse this implement they become violent!

Don't blame all the Thai Mahouts for a single incident!

Go to the Queens Elephant park and see how they are babied...... Look at the laws in Thailand which dictate how an elephant will be treated. We even have a law saying they must wear (Tail) lights after dark......

Now go to Mayanmar/Burma or Laos or India etc. and do the same....... Now go to Africa and see how you can still kill an elephant, not so in Thailand.

Step down from your soap box and open your eyes! The elephants in Thailand have it made in the shade man.......

One incident doesn't warrant the condemnation of the mahouts.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

must agree haveworked in zoos and park most of my life, like to see an animal lover getting an elephant or camel to move with kind words, I rememember an incident in a Munich railway goods yard ,we were unloading a group of camels for the zoo, as protection we had broom handles ,some animal lover phoned the police and the german animal protection agency,2 very pompous and I am sure animal loving officials proceeded to abuse and threaten us for ill treating the poor camels they informed us it would be easier to unload the animals with kindness and soft words so I told them to go ahead and try,one gentleman was promptly bitten in the shoulder and carried away by one very pissed off camel stallion,which proceeded to beat the crap out of the loving person, arrive police on scene , Bang,Bang!! camel shot dead. I know some mahouts are cruel ,but elephants aint corgi,s , lose concentration for one second and they can kill you to Death inthe last 30 years I know of of 15 keepers killed by animals in zoo,s, 4 by elephants!! dont judge all animal handlers the same.At least thailand is trying to sort out its elephant problem!! I was unfortunate enough to be on the last big elephant cull in Botswana in february 1983 , they shot over 2000 elephants now that is cruel!!nignoy

[chanchao]

Oh-oh.. Thai news article with numbers in it..

1.2 million visitors, but locals are expected to visit in greater numbers. So that's more people per day. And 15% of all visitors to Chiang Mai.. I wonder what percentage visit the existing zoo, currently? Keep in mind that this is not something 'Thai' or 'Chiang Mai'.. it's just a zoo. Why would I go see it as a tourist? I'd rather see real nature. Whoops, that area WAS real nature (National Park Land) before they built a zoo there!

And.. 600 elephants?? I cannot begin to imagine the sight.

Still, the Bird Flu Tunnel sounds kinda neat.

Also, would we be counted as locals giving that my house is walking distance from the park?

[Johpa]

Oh, great... 600 more elephants to suffer at the hands of violent mahouts. 

I'm sure there will be plenty of baby elephants too.  Imagine being a baby elephant and spending your entire life being beaten with canes or sticks.  Imagine also not being able to spend your time with your mother, which is what baby elephants get to do in the wild.

I was in Chiang Mai last week and saw a mahout beating a baby elephant.  So I guess (as this was my first time to visit the north) that mahouts throughout Thailand are all into beating defenseless elephants.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I really doubt they are going to try to have 600 elephants. It would be difficult to acquire that many elephants and it would be even more difficult to feed and care for that many elephants. It is already a major chore to feed the elephants up at Mae Sa, currently the largest concentration in the Kingdom, with food having to be trucked in from far away. And just where do they intend to dispose of the bio waste from such a large number of pachyderms? Not to mention the aroma that will slowly waft over the city in the hot season. Better to leave the large domesticated herds up at the Mae Sa camp where they are well cared for by a knowledgeable staff then have a new area open up with a bunch of city folks trying to make profits at any cost simply to pay off debt.

As for beating a young elephant, it is no different than striking a young puppy to teach it not to pee in the house. It looks much worse than it is. And there is little choice as there are few places for wild elephants. So one can choose between having a domesticated living elephant or a dead elephant. And yes, the young are separated from their mothers at about two years of age for training and domestication but they are often soon reunited. This has been the method used for centuries. But trust me, you can whack an elephant darn hard without causing injury although it will make those who don't understand wince. Failing to train an elephant is simply not an option. (And how many cats & dogs get to spend time with their mothers as they would in the wild? Really a very silly anthropomorphic argument)

One can on occasion find some bad mahouts but that is not very common. Most mahouts are simply nice guys (except for the jerk who was once married to my sister-inlaw) from poor families, often Karen, working hard in a very low paying job.

The other down side of this project is that it would complete the corporatization of elephant ownership in the Kingdom. Pho Liang now owns most of the elephants up at Mae Sa compared to 20 years ago when most of the elephants were still owned by Karen families. And I think Mae Liang owns most of the elphants up at her Mae Tang camp. Pho Liang is totally devoted to the welfare of the elephants up at his camp He is a very unique character that will be hard to replace in Chiang Mai society. I have serious doubts that this Safari park will find anyone of his integrity to care for a large herd of elephants.