The animals
Nearly 400 different species of animal are kept at the Chiang
Mai Zoo, including elephants, tigers, chimpanzees, hippopotami
and rhinoceroses. The zoo also features some outstanding special
attractions such as the walk through aviary, a fascinating
freshwater aquarium and the zoo's stars - Chuang Chuang and
Lin Hui, two young pandas who were sent as goodwill ambassadors
from China in 2003.
The emphasis here is on creating a natural feeling environment,
an illusion of being out in the wild. Many of the enclosures,
such as the giraffe and zebra exhibit, have ramps and walkovers
that allow visitors to get up close and personal with the
zoo's furry residents.
Conservation and education are top priorities at Chiang Mai
Zoo; the animals are well cared for and quite happy and healthy.
The animal population of the zoo is as diverse as the human
population of northern Thailand. Here you will find a wide
variety of Southeast Asian species, such as the Giant Mae
Khong Catfish, the Tiger and the rare Serow, which has existed
almost unchanged for 7 million years.
In addition to these regional species, the zoo is home to
creatures from all corners of the globe, including the Alpaca
from South America, Giraffes and Zebras from Africa, Kangaroos
and Dingoes from Australia and Scops Owls from Europe, among
many others. A truly unusual sight is the Humboldt Penguin
exhibit. Seeing birds traditionally associated with the frigid
Polar Regions thriving in balmy Thailand is definitely one
to file in the something-you-don't-see-everyday column.
Layout
Covering as much land as it does, Chiang Mai Zoo can be quite
a hike to get around so make sure to familiarize yourself
with the exhibits on display to ensure that you get to see
everything you want. Near the entrance is the Cage Area, where
smaller animals are kept in traditional zoo cages amid a colourful
profusion of tropical flowers. Beyond the entrance area you
will find the Open Zoo, a 40 acre, walled enclosure where
numerous species are allowed to mingle and roam free. A pedestrian
walkover allows visitors a unique perspective from which to
observe the behaviour of the animals. The Breeding Area and
Recreational Areas are located towards the back of the zoo,
near a pleasant lake that makes for perfect picnics.
Getting Around the Zoo
The zoo's main areas are connected by a long road that runs
in a loop from the entrance to the lake and back. And when
we say long, we mean long. Remember that the zoo covers over
200 acres of land. After walking half of it you might feel
like roping an antelope and riding it to the next exhibit.
Take heart, however, as vehicles are allowed in the zoo, so
if you're pressed for time or simply don't feel like walking
you can still cover all of the attractions. There are also
open air tram busses that take occupants to various exhibits,
with tours narrated by the drivers. The park staff is very
knowledgeable but their English is not always the best.
While the Latin names of the animals are written in English,
the common names are almost all in Thai. You won't need a
translator to tell you that the huge predator marked Panthera
Leo is a Lion but you might have trouble figuring out which
is a Trichosurus Vulpecula (Brushtail Possum) and which is
a Myrmecophaga Tridactyla (Giant Anteater).
The Pandas
Although there are plenty of exhibits to see, there are a
few that stand out above the rest. The highlight is, of course,
the panda exhibit. Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui (or Thewan and
Thewee as they are known to the Thais) are easily the zoo's
most charismatic and photogenic residents. Their multi-million
baht enclosure is designed to accurately simulate the cool
mountain climate of their natural home, making it a great
place to come and seek refuge from the heat.
The pandas are at their most active in the morning, romping,
wrestling and playing on the structures in their spacious
home. If you go in the afternoon they'll spend as much time
watching you as you do watching them. Visiting the pandas
is an extra 100 baht for adults and 50 baht for children but
the fee is worth it and no visit to the Chiang Mai Zoo is
complete with stopping in and observing these fascinating
and gentle creatures.
The Aviary and Other Attractions
Also popular, and with good reason, is Chiang Mai Zoo's Nakornping
Walk Through Aviary. This massive exhibit consists of a 2.5
acre enclosed space that is home to over 800 birds. After
passing through the doors and gates you will arrive inside
a huge artificial forest filled with trees, flowers and, of
course, birds. At the forest floor it is almost impossible
to see the metal netting high above and you really feel as
if you are deep in the jungle, complete with river and small
waterfall.
The aviary was renovated in 2004 and now has more paths,
pavilions and open spaces for visitors to relax in. Along
the pathways you will find the large ground dwelling birds,
such as peacocks, emus and flamingos. As you proceed through
the aviary you will find walkways that ascend up through the
trees, eventually emerging above the canopy. This multi-level
approach allows you to get a first hand look at the birds
that occupy different areas of the forest cover.
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