Govt planning transfer of Chiang Mai Zoo operations

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Govt planning transfer of Chiang Mai Zoo operations
Janjira Pongrai
The Nation



CHIANG MAI: -- The government plans to transfer the operations of Chiang Mai Zoo over to the Office of the Prime Minister's Pinkanakorn Development Agency, said the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry's permanent secretary Chote Trachu yesterday.

Chote said the ministry had received an official letter from the Office of the Prime Minister about the transfer of the zoo's operations. In the letter, it was explained that the transfer was aimed at promoting the development of tourist destinations like Chiang Mai Zoo, which is a home of hundreds of wild animals, including several pandas from China. The zoo generates more than Bt100 million a year.

The official letter was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi and was sent on August 4 requesting that Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wichet Kasemthongsri transfer administration of the zoo to the Pinkanakorn Development Agency.

According to the official letter, Plodprasop has also instructed the Zoological Park Organisation to organise a meeting to resolve the issue.

An environmental expert, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was worried that the transfer of the zoo would lead to its commercialisation, while care of the animals would become a secondary concern.

The government has already transferred operations of Chiang Mai Night Safari and Chiang Mai International Convention and Exhibition Centre to the Pinkanakorn Development Agency.

According to the environmental expert, the government has instructed the Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand to team up with the Pinkanakorn Development Agency to study the pros and cons of transferring the zoo's operations. The Zoological Park Organisation will hold a meeting with the agency to discuss the issue on August 5.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wichet Kasemthongsri said the transfer of the zoo's operations was aimed at promoting local tourism. He added that a press conference would be arranged providing details of the transfer, once arrangements had been finalised.


-- The Nation 2013-07-29

[SOTIRIOS]

.......dubious.......like everything this government does.....never for the reasons stated.....

[Dap]

Leaving no stone unturned the PTP will extract its tithe from all quarters.

No surprise K. plodprasop of CM Night Safari infamy, etc has his dirty fingers in

this if not total instigator. Who are the owners of Pinkanakorn Development

Agency anyway? And, where did they come from?

[bangarang]

I haven't been to this zoo, but lets hope it doesnt turn into what happened to the Phuket Zoo. I never understood how the Phuket zoo can charge 500thb for foreigners and have crappy facilities and mistreat the animals. Greed.

[CIHUAHUA]

I haven't been to this zoo, but lets hope it doesnt turn into what happened to the Phuket Zoo. I never understood how the Phuket zoo can charge 500thb for foreigners and have crappy facilities and mistreat the animals. Greed.

Things are about the same here in CM. Thai people pay a small amount and foreigners pay the big one. Maybe the Minister of Ministry should handle this one.

[KRS1]

why does promoting the zoo to tourist have to involve operations?

use an marketing agency just like every other business.