Chiang Mai Zoo

Chiang Mai Zoo

Giant pandas at the zoo
Date opened	1957 (as a private zoo)[1] 16 June 1977 (as official zoo of Chang Mai)[1]
Location	Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand
Land area	200 acres (81 ha)[2]
Coordinates	18°48′32″N 98°56′49″E / 18.809°N 98.947°E / 18.809; 98.947Coordinates: 18°48′32″N 98°56′49″E / 18.809°N 98.947°E / 18.809; 98.947
Number of species	400+
Website	www.chiangmaizoo.com

Chiang Mai Zoo is a 200-acre (81 ha) zoo located on 100 Huay Kaew Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand, just north of Chiang Mai University. It is the first commercial zoo in Northern Thailand, and was established on 16 June 1977.

History

In 1950 the U.S 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 Suthep Mountain, 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), transferred to the Zoological Park Organization under the patronage of the King of Thailand, and opened as the official zoo of Chang 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. It also has a marine aquarium, which is the largest one in Asia.

Animals

Overall, 400 animal species are represented in the zoo including koalas, Humboldt penguins, Cape fur seals, the only rhino in Thailand, hippos, flamingos, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, camels, lions, tigers, Barbary sheep, Malayan tapir, and many types of reptiles.^[4] The zoo is also home to two 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 of China.^[6][7]

Transportation

The 2-kilometre (1.2 mi) Chiang Mai Zoo Monorail was opened in 2005. It takes visitors around the premises to four stations. The trains are air conditioned and can transport 50–70 passengers.^[8] The zoo also has trams that can take visitors around the zoo.^[4] Fees are charged for both modes of transportation.^[9]

See also

• Chiang Mai Night Safari
• Panda pornography

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "History of Chiang Mai Zoo (in Thai)". chiangmaizoo.peam.biz. Chiang Mai Zoo. http://chiangmaizoo.peam.biz/organization/organization_index.html. Retrieved 25 September 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "History". chiangmaizoo.peam.biz. Chiang Mai Zoo. http://chiangmaizoo.peam.biz/organization/organization_index.html. Retrieved 25 September 2011. 
3. ^ "History". zoothailand.org. The Zoological Park Organization. http://www.zoothailand.org/index.php/en/the-zoological-park-organization/history. Retrieved 27 September 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Attractions". chiangmaizoo.peam.biz. Chiang Mai Zoo. http://chiangmaizoo.peam.biz/attractions/attractions_index.html. Retrieved 25 September 2011. 
5. ^ "Present living elephants at Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand". elephant.se. Elephant encyclopedia. http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1270&show=2. Retrieved 26 September 2011. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Giant Pandas in Chiang Mai". giantpandazoo.com. GiantPandaZoo.com. http://www.giantpandazoo.com/panda/panda-zoos/chiang-mai-zoo. Retrieved 26 September 2011. 
7. ^ "New-born giant panda in Thailand named 'Lin Bing'". chinadaily.com.cn. China Daily. 10 August 2009. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-08/10/content_8551808.htm. Retrieved 25 September 2011. 
8. ^ "Chiang Mai Zoo - Bangkok, Thailand". monorails.org. The Monorail Society. http://www.monorails.org/tmspages/Bangkok2.html. Retrieved 25 September 2011. 
9. ^ "Times & Fees". chiangmaizoo.peam.biz. Chiang Mai Zoo. http://chiangmaizoo.peam.biz/times&fees/times_fees_index.html. Retrieved 25 September 2011. 

External links

Media related to Chiang Mai Zoo at Wikimedia Commons

• Thai: Official website