Chiang Mai Safari: Rare Animals On The Menu At Zoo

[NguuMuu]

Mr. PLODPRASOB said that Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from abroad should look back at their own countries’ behaviours in conserving wild animals, before criticizing Thailand.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Now that they realize what a stupid idea it is it's time to pass the blame and spotlight.

[JRinger]

Mr. PLODPRASOB said that the CHIANG MAI Night Safari is a good project set up to study and conserve natural resources and wild animals as well as support ecotourism in Thailand.

it's all about the baht. Any educational programs in the Thai schools to teach students about conservation of wild animals? Birds & most other wild animals are all but extinct. (i.e., eaten)

[RDN]

What a pathetic, amateurish response...

.....there may be some flaws in the operations at the zoo. However, he indicated it will take another month to complete the project...

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Is it a zoo or a project?

...confusion and lack of understanding in the zoo’s principles.

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Confusion on whose part? The guy serving the dishes?

... (NGOs) from abroad should look back at their own countries’ behaviours in conserving wild animals, before criticizing Thailand...

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Na-na-nana-na!

He said further that the zoo was a success as 4,000 visitors visit the zoo every night.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So there! We are a success so we don't care, we're not doing anything wrong and I won't lose my job.

[Ricardo]

However, he indicated it will take another month to complete the project.

So it's not yet open, then 

He said further that the zoo was a success as 4,000 visitors visit the zoo every night. 

every night, even though it's not yet open, right.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But at least the message has now got through about 'eating the view'.

[Maejo Man]

WILD ANIMALS WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN A MENU AT CHAING MAI'S NIGHT SAFARI

The report came out because of confusion and lack of understanding in the zoo’s principles. He said that only crocodile and ostrich meats.

He said further that the zoo was a success as 4,000 visitors visit the zoo every night. 

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 November 2005

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well we all knew that the buck would be passed, but baming the poor old zoo's principals

Did I miss the opening too?

[Crossy]

However, he indicated it will take another month to complete the project.

So it's not yet open, then 

He said further that the zoo was a success as 4,000 visitors visit the zoo every night. 

every night, even though it's not yet open, right.

It's had a 'soft opening' whatever that is, something like the new airport I suppose

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Hopefully, sanity (or at least some semblance of it) shall prevail. It has for now... at least temporarily:

Kenyan judge halts wildlife gift to Thailand

12/20/2005

NAIROBI (AFP) - A Kenyan judge issued a temporary injunction to stop the government's gift to Thailand of 175 exotic wild animals, halting the planned transfer that has outraged conservationists worldwide and infuriated local tribes.

Nairobi High Court Judge Joseph Nyamu ordered the export delayed for at least two months, pending completion of a lawsuit filed against the government by animal welfare and community groups who contend a memorandum of understanding signed last month between Nairobi and Bangkok is illegal.

Two groups -- the Nairobi Community Based Organisations Consortium and Kenya Society for the Protection and Care for Animals -- asked the court last week to quash the deal but Nyamu had delayed a ruling to consider whether the agreement was a treaty and not reviewable by the judiciary.

On Tuesday, Nyamu said he had determined the memorandum of understanding was not a treaty, that the lawsuit could therefore proceed and ordered the transfer of animals suspended.

"The court is satisfied that the MOU between the two countries might not be a treaty," he said. "I therefore grant the temporary order stopping the export for the next 60 days."

On November 9, Kenyan Tourism and Wildlife Minister Morris Dzoro and Thai Natural Resources and Environment Minister Yongyut Tiyapairat signed a deal in Nairobi pledging "cooperation in the field of park and wildlife management."

As part of the agreement, Kenya was to send 175 animals, including zebras, flamingos, buffaloes, wildebeests, hippos, spotted hyena, silver-back jackals and impalas to a soon-to-opened safari park in northern Thailand.

The move drew anger and indignation from wildlife groups that had vehemently fought to stop the deal, arguing it violates Kenyan law, is not in line with established conservation principles and will hurt Kenya's reputation as a leader in the protection of animals.

In their lawsuit, they say Dzoro acted improperly in signing the agreement because he had not consulted the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) which by law has wide authority over the conservation and management of the country's wild animals.

"The national heritage of this country should not be left to the disposal of one person or one arm of the government," one of the plaintiff's lawyers, Mbugua Mureithi, told the court. (WISE WORDS FOR THAILAND TO FOLLOW AS WELL!)

KWS officials have said they oppose the deal on several grounds, not least of which are concerns for the health of the animals if they are moved to a non-native habitat.

KWS spokeswoman Connie Maina told AFP on Tuesday that the agency had not received any formal notice about the deal, except for a letter from the Thai embassy in Nairobi thanking Kenya for agreeing to give the animals to Thailand.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) welcomed Nyamu's Tuesday order said it hoped the deal would be stopped outright by the lawsuit.

"It gives us hope that the case is seriously being looked into by the legal system in Kenya and we hope it would end in a favorable conclusion for what Kenyans are looking for: the termination of the export deal," IFAW spokeswoman Elizabeth Wamba told AFP.

Last week, more than 500 angry Maasai warriors, tribal elders, women and children staged a raucous protest to stop the planned gift and threatened to shed blood if it goes ahead.

Critics argue the gift is tantamount to giving away Kenya's heritage, potentially hurting the country's critical tourism sector and harming the animals.

Opponents were further outraged in mid-November when a senior Thai official said a restaurant in the safari park would offer a daily buffet of giraffe, zebra and crocodile meat to hungry visitors.

After howls of protest, the official said the plans to serve exotic meat in the park would be reviewed.

[Ricardo]

WILD ANIMALS WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN A MENU AT CHAING MAI'S NIGHT SAFARI

The report came out because of confusion and lack of understanding in the zoo’s principles. He said that only crocodile and ostrich meats.

Lack-of-understanding was due to people believing the publicity-statements being put out 

He said further that the zoo was a success as 4,000 visitors visit the zoo every night. 

4,000 visitors per night, while it is FREE for locals to get in, but what will it settle down to, once visitors have to pay ?  Having said which, it does make sense , to trial the attractions' systems, with live guests

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 November 2005

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well we all knew that the buck would be passed, but baming the poor old zoo's principals

Did I miss the opening too?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank God there were no farangs, involved in the project, and able to take the blame

[sriracha john]

and more bad news for the Chiang Mai Night Buffet.... errr, I mean... Safari

50 animals from China also held up

China has postponed the delivery of 50 animals, including a pair of white tigers, to the Chiang Mai Night Safari due to problems involving international wildlife regulations, a senior night safari official said yesterday.

The move follows Kenya’s postponement of a shipment of 175 animals for similar reasons.

Supoj Methapiwat, director of the Animal Management Office, said the Chinese were supposed to deliver the animals to the zoo on December 28 on time for the New Year celebrations.

However, Chinese officials said they could not deliver the animals as planned because more paperwork was required as many of the animals are covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites). The delivery will be postponed for about two weeks, he said.

This will not affect tourism because the zoo already has 900 animals from 90 species, he said.

Meanwhile, the Kenyan Supreme Court in Nairobi on Tuesday postponed the delivery of 175 rare animals to the zoo, which were meant to be a gift to the government.

On November 9, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Natural Resources and Environment Vice Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kenya to present Bt40 million to the African nation for national park science.

In return, Kenya was to send 175 wild animals to Chiang Mai Night Safari as a goodwill gesture and a symbol of closer ties between the two countries. The animals were to include wild cats, giraffes, hippopotami, hyenas, lions and zebras.

Kenya subsequently put the MoU on hold following a lawsuit by Nairobi and Kenyan wildlife conservation groups. They asked the courts to review the legitimacy of the MoU.

Supoj said all of those species were already represented at the zoo, and the government just wanted to get more of the animals. He said the highlight of the zoo will be the kangaroos and koalas from Australia, which should arrive in January.

[taxexile]

Lovers of “wild” cuisine are in for a treat when Chiang Mai’s Night Safari opens next year, project director Plodprasop Suraswadi said yesterday. Visitors to the park’s Vareekunchorn restaurant will have the option of tucking in to an “Exotic Buffet” of tiger, lion, elephant and giraffe, for just Bt4,500 a head.

As for the menu at the Safari, Mr. PLOBPRASOB said that the wild animals featured in shows at the zoo will not become dishes at the safari. The report came out because of confusion and lack of understanding in the zoo’s principles. He said that only crocodile and ostrich meats, which are widely traded in food market in Thailand, will be served at the zoo.

SAFARI PARK MENU. 4500BAHT

SPECIAL PRICE FOR ALIENS. 7500BAHT

1. HUMBLE PIE A LA PLODPRASOP

2. OWN WORDS ON TOAST

3. DOGS EAR CHIANG MAI STYLE

4. MISH MASH SUPREME SERVED ON A BED OF HOT AIR

DRINKS MENU

1. A LOAD OF OLD PISS

[sonnyJ]

Way to go China and Kenya. 101 bulding a Zoo.

Hope the message gets through.

Anyway, I thought a Safarai is a thing you go to and shoot animals.

Wild meat was unfortunately mostly consumed by the past generations. Now we just gotta keep on shopping at the super markets, mostly.

If you got the real money, try this.

www.ausafari.com/auhome.swf

[sriracha john]

things are heating up now.... FISTICUFFS....

Thai TV wildlife debate ends in fight

23/12/2005

A television debate on a controversial plan to ship wildlife from Kenya to a safari park in northern Thailand ended in blows when proponents attacked animal welfare activists.

A proposal to import 175 animals from the East African nation to the Chiang Mai Night Safari Zoo has drawn the ire of conservationists in Kenya and Thailand and was suspended last week by a Kenyan court order.

As soon as the broadcast of the heated debate ended last night, two men accompanying the zoo’s director rushed at two activists and punched them in the face, said Nikom Putra, one of the conservationists.

The fracas lasted several minutes before studio workers were able to get the situation under control. Nikom said he planned to lodge a complaint with police.

Studio workers said the zoo head, Prodprasob Surasawadee, may have provoked the attack, rising from his chair, pointing at the faces of the two conservationists and asking: “What do you want?”

Earlier, Kenya said it would give the animals to Thailand as a gift to strengthen relations, but conservationists voiced concern about how the animals will be affected by their relocation.

Local and international conservationists have also accused the Kenyan government of shipping the animals abroad for money, something it has denied.

[ratcatcher]

There is nothing improper in Thai-Kenyan wildlife deal, says PM

BANGKOK, Dec 23 (TNA) - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said here on Friday that Thailand has done nothing improper in agreeing to receive wildlife from Kenya despite a Nairobi court decision to delay implementing an agreement to send African wildlife to Chiang Mai.

He cited the issue as "not a serious matter", saying Thailand has done nothing improper in making the arrangement.

Thailand can also source the wildlife for the Chiang Mai Night Safari from other African countries, the Prime Minister said.

Kenya signed an agreement to export up to 175 wild animals, including giraffes, hippos and zebras to the Chiang Mai Night Safari Park in Thailand's northern province of Chiang Mai.

But the Kenyan government this week put the plan on hold, following a lawsuit filed by the Nairobi community and Kenyan wildlife conservation groups, asking the court to review the legitimacy of the contract.

The Kenya High Court has ordered a delay of the controversial plan for at least two months, stating that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries was not a treaty.

Speaking to reporters before leaving for the country's southern region Friday morning to inspect the flooding situation there, the Thai prime minister said if sending African wildlife to Thailand was carried out in "the right way" by Kenya, it would be acceptable to Thailand.

But if animals were sent in "the wrong way." it would be unacceptable since Thailand has a commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

"If Kenya can't send the animals as agreed, it won't have a negative impact on the Chiang Mai Night Safari because the zoo has enough animalsand there are other countries that will send them to us," he said.

Mr. Thaksin noted that the lawsuit lodged by the Kenyan wildlife conservation groups might be prompted by some misunderstandings about the wildlife.

Kenya has an overpopulation of wild animals and to contain it in manageable numbers, the Kenyan government accordingly, Mr. Thaksin explained, instead of killing them, offered to send some of them to Thailand, where there are many sanctuaries providing the proper care for wild animals.

He also noted that Kenya and Thailand had cooperated in conducting research on wild life.

"Don't overeact to the Kenyan court decision," Mr. Thaksin advised. "The Night Safari has many animals to attract tourists, and over 90,000 visitors a day visit there," he said.

According to the prime minister, the official opening of Chiang Mai Night Safari Park, the first of its kind in the kingdom, has been postponed from January to February 1, 2006.

However, it is unofficially open for the public to visit on special occasions.

Free admission is offered on New Year's Days, Children's Day, and Teachers' Day in January. (TNA)--E009

"Don't overeact to the Kenyan court decision," Mr. Thaksin advised. "The Night Safari has many animals to attract tourists, and over 90,000 visitors a day visit there," he said.

90,000 visitors a day, and it's not even open?

According to the prime minister, the official opening of Chiang Mai Night Safari Park, the first of its kind in the kingdom, has been postponed from January to February 1, 2006.

So it's not open and the official opening is delayed until February 1st.

However, it is unofficially open for the public to visit on special occasions.

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=5393

But it's open just enough for 90,000 people to visit every day on special occasions.

1. Can anyone tell us if it's actually open?

2. Are there really 90,000 visitors a day?

3. What is a "special occasion"?

4. Just how many animals is enough since " the zoo has enough animals" (P.M.'s words.

Just how long is this circus going to drag on. Surely Mr.Plod has enough species in his Safari Park that there need no longer be a reason to try and secure wild animals from their proper environment on the plains of Africa.

[sonnyJ]

"Don't overeact to the Kenyan court decision," Mr. Thaksin advised. "The Night Safari has many animals to attract tourists, and over 90,000 visitors a day visit there," he said.

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Don't overreact?

That's exatly whats he's doing in the most grandeaur way, by this kinds of statements!

So oviously the investor(s) money are at stake, who ever they are, I don't know.

So typical Thai reply.

-sorry but we can't do this for these, these, these reasons..

-We have done nothing wrong!

Still unbelievable if true.

I would keep these kind of comments strictly out of public.

There seems to be something improper with these deals since a few countries have postponed the deals because of some wildlife conservation activism. I would say something enormous.

Maybe it is that Thailand is simply not ready to handle this project, yet.

I'm sure that every side of the deal wants it to be completely closed as soon as possible.

These kind of comments make it "a serious matter".

Just wonder,,,

How can this guy be in control???

Sounds good though, "He is on the way to visit south flood areas". Should get him few points more, if not too late. Other thing is did he get over there really.

[jomama]

This is unbelievable. There is no way in h*ll that 90,000 people a day (night?) are visiting. We drove on the canal road (which is the access point to the place) after dark yesterday evening and there was little traffic going in.

Jeez I wish the folks would stop voicing their fantasies and calling them facts!

Then yesterday on a talk show the Minister in charge of the Night Safari (Plopa-plopa or whateve his name is) got into a heated debate with a Chiang Mai animal rights activist -- and after the show the activist was punched in the face by Plopa's boys. This is the same Plopa who first voiced the idea of eating zoo animals.

I wonder who truly belongs in the zoo...

[Sandstone Art]

Showcase those Plopa-plopa spices and they could be a big draw to the already

'crowded' night safari

[Ricardo]

We went a couple of evenings ago, and found the access-road (before the main gate) still very-much under construction ! Driving along a 5-foot-wide dirt-track, with the graders & bulldozers in-front & alongside us working away at full pace, was a distinctly brown-pants experience

Also were charged full-price for the tram-ride, at 8.30 in the evening, a total of 1750B for 1 farang, 3 adults, 5 children. This must be some new definition of the word 'free' which I wasn't previously aware of

There was a free walk-round Jaguar-Trail exhibit of animals around the pleasant lake - which we might return to see, another time.

To be fair - the tram-ride (40 minutes incl cutting across the two main car-parks) was a good way to see the animals, superior to a 'normal' zoo, and will be even better - once the 1/3 of species not yet on-site arrive. Recommended.

Wonder how they get the sole vulture & pair of eagles to sit on their branch all evening ? Super-Glue ??

The buffet-area was clearly marked, empty & unused and stacked high with tables/chairs, despite the crowds of potential-customers. Must be re-printing the menues. The coffee at the snack-bar was good, but the machine found an order of 3 cups too much, and broke down after producing the first 2

[Sangsom]

We went yesterday, the access road was very dirty and indeed needs a lot of construction before you can call it a road. Also some indications along the road from town on how to drive would be very helpful. Only when you are almost there and can't miss it anymore there are clear signs.

The place it self looks very grand but we did not come to admiore the architecture. We made a trip in a small bus for which we waited about half an hour. I saw the odd animal now and then but prefer a Zoo where I can stop when I like to stop and do everything in my own timed not to talk about the irritating voice of the lady in the bus explaining everything in Thai (Lanna Thai as I was told) and as she though also in English but only she thought that I guess ...

All was free entrance as well as the bus ride and also the parking.

My judgment is that when one has to pay for this 400 baht as non-Thai and 250 baht for Thais: don't do it! Go to a nice Zoo. The Chiang Mai Night Safari is a waste of time, money and energy!

It was fairly busy, but it was still free! I do not see an average Thai family (2 parents with 2 kids) spending 1.000 baht for just the fee to get in . . . For the tourist industry there will be yet another trap . . . that's for sure!

[sriracha john]

A white elephant at the Night Safari

By Bannaros Buakhlee

The Chiang Mai Night Safari is the first phase of a 10-billion-baht project to develop 10,000 rai at the foot of Doi Suthep. It is perhaps the single biggest development project near the mountain since Chiang Mai was founded by Phya Meng Rai in 1296.

In recent months, public criticism has focused only on the Night Safari and ignored the many problems plaguing the larger project.

As the Night Safari is the only finished part of the project to date, the attention it has garnered is only natural. However, concentrating only on the zoo has left the public misinformed about the huge scope of what developers ultimately intend.

NGOs, the press and government organizations all must bear responsibility for failing to fully inform the public.

Since 2002 politicians and developers have regarded the 10,000 rai at the foot of Doi Suthep in Mae Hia subdistrict as the site of a major tourism project.

The Night Safari itself is the pet project of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

In February 2002, officials began looking for a site to build the zoo. By March, Plodprasob Surasawadi, then director of the Royal Forestry Department, set up a committee and hired a company to conduct a feasibility study for building the project at the base of Doi Suthep.

However, before zoo design firm Bernard Harrison and Friends conducted a survey of the land, the committee had decided that the safari would be built there.

The committee envisioned a project covering 9,197 rai, though only 824 rai would be needed for the Night Safari. Some of that land would be used for another zoo, a panda exhibit and a park. An additional 5,000 rai would be set aside for future projects.

By the end of 2003, Prime Minister Thaksin had plans for a tourism complex that would include a cable car and a colossal stadium for elephant shows.

Problems with the exact plans for both the cable car and the stadium resulted in only the Night Safari being proposed for Cabinet approval in 2003. Despite a spate of problems, the committee settled on appropriating 10,000 rai even though it had not yet decided what would be built on it.

The committee worked backwards. Rather than deciding what to build and then determining how much land would be required, they decided to take over the property and then concocted projects for the space. Other ideas included an aviary, a tiger park and a crocodile farm.

Strange ideas have been a hallmark of the project since its inception. The weirdest perhaps was a plan to serve the meat of rare animal species, including zebra, at the Night Safari. A 50-meter high secondhand Ferris wheel was bought from the Aichi Expo in Japan for 50 million baht with no plans for where to put it.

As of today, no progress has been made on the cable car project, the elephant show stadium, the aviary, the tiger park or the crocodile farm. When the government is asked to provide details on these projects, it refuses to do so.

It would be one thing if the government had appropriated 10,000 rai of pristine forest to build a well-planned tourism complex that had the approval of the taxpayers. But the government project will destroy the forest – an important “green lung” for the country’s second largest city – without any clear direction and without public consensus.

The long-term effects of such a move, however, have not registered with the government. Instead, it relies on the same old clich?s, hoping to turn the province into “Chiang Mai World” on the order of Disney World.

Implementing poorly planned projects that destroy the nation’s resources is like robbing the people of Thailand.

The government’s only aim is to make money. This single-minded vision is followed to the detriment of environmental protection, social stability and democracy.

The cable car and elephant stadium might seem like small issues, but they are indicative of a larger problem endemic to this government. Last year, other equally ill-conceived government projects, including a planned highway across the Gulf of Thailand, had to be canceled.

If the government wants its projects to succeed and meet with public approval it must remember to develop feasible ideas, consult with the public and keep the country’s long-term interests at heart.

[Crushdepth]

By the end of 2003, Prime Minister Thaksin had plans for a tourism complex that would include a cable car and a colossal stadium for elephant shows.

Excellent. Will Taksin order some lions and Christians too?

Problems with the exact plans for both the cable car and the stadium resulted in only the Night Safari being proposed for Cabinet approval in 2003. Despite a spate of problems, the committee settled on appropriating 10,000 rai even though it had not yet decided what would be built on it.

The committee worked backwards. Rather than deciding what to build and then determining how much land would be required, they decided to take over the property and then concocted projects for the space. Other ideas included an aviary, a tiger park and a crocodile farm.

Is it just my imagination, or are these the by-now-all-too-familiar hallmarks of a dodgy land deal?

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Thai PM opens safari park, minus safari animals

Mon Feb 6, 2006 10:53 AM ET

CHIANG MAI, Thailand (Reuters) - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra opened Thailand's biggest safari park on Monday, even though the venture, which has been dubbed a 1.1 billion baht ($28 million) white elephant, remains short of safari animals.

Returning to his home city of Chiang Mai after a weekend of protests calling for his resignation, Thaksin refused to answer questions from reporters about a controversial deal to ship in game from Kenya to populate the "Night Safari" theme park.

Instead, the telecoms billionaire dwelt on his dream of pumping millions of dollars of government money into the sleepy northern city to transform it into a regional rival of Hong Kong or Singapore, which already has a similar attraction.

"It will be like Disneyland, but more focused on nature," Thaksin said at a lavish opening ceremony, before disappearing off into the dark to peer at a gibbon hanging listlessly from a tree and two tigers in a metal cage.

Glossy brochures for the 130 hectare site in foothills outside the city promise an "African savannah" with "harmless animals such as elephants, giraffe and zebras," or a "Predator Prowl" replete with "lions, tigers, Asiatic black bears, hyenas and crocodiles, etc."

However, on closer inspection, many of the advertised exhibits are missing, despite Thaksin himself lobbying the Kenyan government in November for a shipment of more than 100 safari animals in return for "technical assistance."

After an uproar from conservationists, who said it was akin to poaching, Kenya said it would only export "animals that we have in plenty, such as flamingos, wildebeest and the African buffalo."

Nairobi also refused to set a date for any shipment, and ruled out sending animals covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

OUTRAGE

"The idea of poaching wildlife in the jungles and fields of Kenya to put into a small enclosure in northern Thailand for the sole purpose of turning it into a tourist hub is outrageous," said Edwin Wiek of green group Wildlife Friends of Thailand.

Reported comments -- later retracted -- by zoo boss Plodprasop Suraswadi suggesting visitors would be able to dine on tiger, lion, elephant and giraffe, only fueled the outrage against a nation regarded as a hub of the illegal wildlife trade.

The Kenyan controversy is not the first to blight the project, which is just one phase of a planned 4 billion baht "Mega project" cash injection for Chiang Mai.

Plodprasop has been challenged to shoulder financial responsibility for a project crictics say is destined for failure, and local media have reported nearby orchards overrun by Asian elephants whose mahouts have been promised a starring role.

"All our dreams and efforts to make a living from this orchard are completely destroyed," farmer's wife Dawan Saosena told the Bangkok Post. "Now we can't even get inside our orchard because we are afraid of the strangers and their animals."

[stumonster]

um...

African Wild Ass

Status: Critically Endangered

kin khow mr sh1tlips

[sriracha john]

SAD UPDATE

Staff injured by improperly-restrained animals... animals dying from inexperienced workers... animals jumping to their deaths... all is not well in Chiang Mai:

Chiang Mai's Night Safari accused of poor management

Chiang Mai's Night Safari zoo has fallen afoul of wildlife activists again, with claims that 104 animals have died there because of poor management.

The claim came after a woman veterinarian was rushed to hospital from the zoo at the weekend after being struck on the head by an iron bar when a white rhinoceros struggled violently in a holding cage while she treated its hurt eye. The woman suffered a brain haemorrhage, but is recovering in hospital.

Veterinarian Charuayporn Sae Ju, 26, was attempting to wash the hurt eye of the five-year-old Indian rhino named Roger. She was expected to be released from hospital in a few days.

Night Safari director Pisal Wasuwanich said the rhino might have been frustrated at being kept in the cage during the eye treatment.

The accident was revealed one day after the Wildlife Fund Thailand claimed that 104 animals have died at the zoo, a casualty rate that has been kept secret. The deaths reportedly include a new-born giraffe.

The zoo's project director, Plodprasop Suraswadi, admitted the giraffe and its mother died during the birth of the calf on January 29 because both the mother and calf were in bad health.

Moreover, he said several birds died after their wing tendons were cut by unskilled staff to stop them from flying away.

Wildlife Fund Thailand director Nikom Puttha claimed to have been informed by zoo staff that 104 animals, including giraffes, birds, hyenas, ostriches and several kinds of deer, died in the period up to January 8 because of poor treatment, tension because of transportation and the inappropriate environment of the zoo.

Zoo director Pisal said the number of wildlife casualties is not that high. However, a number of imported animals have died during transportation.

These deaths weren't the zoo's fault, he said. The senders were responsible according to an arrangement that animals have to survive for at least 15 days after their arrival, he said.

He also admitted that two gorals - long-haired goat-antelopes from mountainous regions of East Asia - jumped to their death from a cliff in the zoo because of tension caused by their new environment.

"But I can say that the zoo's management and animal-treatment systems are efficient enough as we have four veterinarians at the zoo to carefully look after the wildlife," Pisal said.

[PeaceBlondie]

SAD UPDATE

Staff injured by improperly-restrained animals... animals dying from inexperienced workers... animals jumping to their deaths... all is not well in Chiang Mai:

Chiang Mai's Night Safari accused of poor management

.....a woman veterinarian was rushed to hospital from the zoo at the weekend after being struck on the head by an iron bar when a white rhinoceros struggled violently in a holding cage while she treated its hurt eye. The woman suffered a brain haemorrhage, but is recovering in hospital.

....He also admitted that two gorals - long-haired goat-antelopes from mountainous regions of East Asia - jumped to their death from a cliff in the zoo because of tension caused by their new environment.

"But I can say that the zoo's management and animal-treatment systems are efficient enough as we have four veterinarians at the zoo to carefully look after the wildlife," Pisal said.

Make that three veteranarians, not including the one who's recovering from a brain hemorrhage after the animal treatment systems were proven not be be efficient enough.

[chuchok]

SAD UPDATE

He also admitted that two gorals - long-haired goat-antelopes from mountainous regions of East Asia - jumped to their death from a cliff in the zoo because of tension caused by their new environment.

They were pushed I tell ya!

[sriracha john]

SAD UPDATE

He also admitted that two gorals - long-haired goat-antelopes from mountainous regions of East Asia - jumped to their death from a cliff in the zoo because of tension caused by their new environment.

They were pushed I tell ya!

I would tend to agree IF they had had plastic bags taped over their heads AND their hoofs were tied behind their backs...

[Johpa]

SAD UPDATE

The claim came after a woman veterinarian was rushed to hospital from the zoo at the weekend after being struck on the head by an iron bar when a white rhinoceros struggled violently in a holding cage while she treated its hurt eye. The woman suffered a brain haemorrhage, but is recovering in hospital.

Veterinarian Charuayporn Sae Ju, 26, was attempting to wash the hurt eye of the five-year-old Indian rhino named Roger. She was expected to be released from hospital in a few days.

Night Safari director Pisal Wasuwanich said the rhino might have been frustrated at being kept in the cage during the eye treatment.

I would hope that an animal such as a rhino getting frustated in a very narrow holding cage would only come as a unanticipated shock to some zoo directors and to some veternarians and not to all them.

[leisurely]

That is really sad. I had no idea of the death toll at the zoo. I won't be going to see it.

[sriracha john]

SAD UPDATE

The claim came after a woman veterinarian was rushed to hospital from the zoo at the weekend after being struck on the head by an iron bar when a white rhinoceros struggled violently in a holding cage while she treated its hurt eye. The woman suffered a brain haemorrhage, but is recovering in hospital.

Veterinarian Charuayporn Sae Ju, 26, was attempting to wash the hurt eye of the five-year-old Indian rhino named Roger. She was expected to be released from hospital in a few days.

Night Safari director Pisal Wasuwanich said the rhino might have been frustrated at being kept in the cage during the eye treatment.

I would hope that an animal such as a rhino getting frustated in a very narrow holding cage would only come as a unanticipated shock to some zoo directors and to some veternarians and not to all them.

Exactly. How much sense does it take to think that a white rhino, which at that age can weigh up to 1900 kilos, might be a bit bothered by being kept in a cage while someone squirts eyewash into its eye? :

[Sandstone Art]

At least Roger the Rhino did not die

But the poor vet is risking her life to save Roger