Chiang Mai Zoo

Chiang Mai Zoo
Chiang Mai Zoo entrance
Map
18°48′32″N 98°56′49″E / 18.809°N 98.947°E / 18.809; 98.947
Date opened
  • 1957 (private zoo)[1]
  • 1977 (government zoo)[1]
LocationMueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Land area200 acres (81 ha)[2]
No. of species400+
OwnerZoological Park Organization
Websitewww.chiangmaizoo.com

Chiang Mai Zoo and Aquarium (Thai: สวนสัตว์เชียงใหม่) is a 200-acre (81 ha) zoo on Huay Kaew Road in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, just west of Chiang Mai University. It is the first commercial zoo in northern Thailand, established on 16 June 1977.

History

In 1950 the US government sent military advisers to train tribal police along the border of Thailand. Among them was Harold Mason Young, son of American missionaries, who had been born in Burma. Young started helping injured animals, and his collection started getting visitors. The Chiang Mai provincial government set aside 24 acres (9.7 ha) at the base of Doi Suthep, the mountain immediately adjacent to Chiang Mai, and the facility was opened to the public in 1957.[1][3]

When Young died in 1974, the property was taken over by Chiang Mai Province. The zoo was expanded to its current 200 acres (81 ha) footprint, transferred to the Zoological Park Organization under Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and opened as the official zoo of Chiang Mai province in 1977.[1][2]

Exhibits

Chiang Mai Zoo is privately operated and includes a large variety of animals. In addition, it provides two large aquariums. On 28 October 2008, an aquatic tunnel with a length of 133 metres (436 ft)—the world's longest tunnel aquarium— was opened to the public.

Animals

Panda enclosure at Chiang Mai Zoo
Giant pandas at the zoo
The aquarium at Chiang Mai Zoo

Overall, 400 animal species are represented in the zoo including Humboldt penguin, Cape fur seal, koala, Indian rhinoceros, hippopotamus, greater flamingo, gaur, red-shanked douc, Bornean orangutan, African spurred tortoise, Asiatic black bear, Malayan sun bear, giant anteater, Indochinese tiger, Barbary sheep, Malayan tapir, and many types of reptiles.[4] The zoo is also home to two Asian elephants[5] and three giant pandas.[6]

Giant pandas Lin Hui and Chuang Chuang arrived at the zoo on 12 October 2003, and are on 10-year loan from China. Their daughter Lin Bing was born at the zoo on 27 May 2009, and will be returned to China when she is two years old. Lin Bing is one of just a few giant pandas born in captivity outside China.[6][7]

The aquarium has many sea creatures, including invertebrates and Asian arowana. It also has carnivorous fish such as sharks.

Transportation

The 2-kilometre (1.2 mi) Chiang Mai Zoo Monorail was opened in 2005.[8] It ceased operations in 2014.[9] The zoo also has trams that take visitors around the zoo for a charge.[4][10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "History of Chiang Mai Zoo (in Thai)". chiangmaizoo.peam.biz. Chiang Mai Zoo. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  2. ^ a b "History". chiangmaizoo.peam.biz. Chiang Mai Zoo. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  3. ^ "History". zoothailand.org. The Zoological Park Organization. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Attractions". chiangmaizoo.peam.biz. Chiang Mai Zoo. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  5. ^ "Present living elephants at Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand". elephant.se. Koehl D, Elephant Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Giant Pandas in Chiang Mai". giantpandazoo.com. GiantPandaZoo.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  7. ^ "New-born giant panda in Thailand named 'Lin Bing'". China Daily. chinadaily.com.cn. 10 August 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Chiang Mai Zoo - Bangkok, Thailand". monorails.org. The Monorail Society. Archived from the original on 15 December 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  9. ^ "Chiang Mai Zoo halts monorail service". Bangkok Post.
  10. ^ "Times & Fees". chiangmaizoo.peam.biz. Chiang Mai Zoo. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
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