Large crowds of people are expected at the Dusit Zoo today as the final curtain is brought down on the country’s oldest zoo and one of Bangkok’s most prominent landmarks.
The 80-year-old zoo will be closed down for good starting tomorrow with all animals transferred to other locations.
The zoo also received huge crowds yesterday with parents bringing along children to see their beloved animals for the last time. The zoo director, Mr Benjaphol Narkprasert, said similar scenes are expected to be repeated today.
As for the new home for the animals at Klong 6 in Pathum Thani province, he said officials are in the process of surveying the land which is prone to flooding because it is located in low land.
He said that construction of the foundation of the new zoo there must take into consideration of potential flooding and he admitted he could not say for sure when the land survey would be completed.
The new zoo in Pathum Thani, whose land was donated by HM the King, will be three times the size of Dusit Zoo.
While the new zoo in Pathum Thani province is yet to be built, he said officials will start relocating some of the animals, such as Mae Malee the hippo and giraffes, to temporary shelter at Khao Khiew open zoo.
Most of the birds will be moved to the zoo in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani and elephants to Surin province. The relocation is expected to be completed within this year.
