It's time to say goodbye to oldest zoo in Bangkok

BANGKOK, August 9 (TNA) - The Dusit Zoo, Thailand's oldest zoo located in Bangkok, will be closed for good after the end of this month, with all animals to be moved to a new larger plot of land donated by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun. According to an official announcement, posted by the Dusit Zoo's public relations (PR) departmemt on the DusitzooThailand Facebook page, the oldest zoo and public park in Thailand will be opened for international visitors until August 31. The announcement said pending the construction of the zoo in the new 300-rai plot of land (2.5 rai = 1 acre) in Thanyaburi area of Bangkok's neighboring Pathum Thani Province, all animals at the Dusit Zoo will be then moved to other zoos across the country temporarily, including the eastern Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri Province, the northern Chiang Mai Zoo, the northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, the northeastern Ubon Ratchathani Zoo, the northeastern Khon Kaen Zoo and the southern Songkhla Zoo, where they will be under the proper care of specialists based on international standards. There are, however, farewell activities organized at Bangkok's Dusit Zoo throughout this month to welcome and entertain its last batches of international visitors, especially during the upcoming long public holidays on August 11-13 marking the national celebration of the 86th birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the National Mother's Day. The special activities, to be organized during the upcoming long holidays when a 50 per cent discount of entrance fees will also be offered to people who were born in August, include an exhibition in honor of His Majesty Queen Sirikit, a talk about animals and a walk rally, as well as a demonstration of proper animal feeding and shows of various kinds of animals. The announcement stated that a consultant firm is, meanwhile, conducting a thorough survey in the royally-donated area, where the "new Dusit Zoo" will be constructed, which is about three times larger than the present Dusit Zoo, to ensure that its environment and all other aspects will best meet the international standards. The Zoological Park Organization will hold a press conference in Bangkok on August 14 when members of the media sector are welcome to be briefed on the relocation of the present Dusit Zoo and other relevant processes. The present Dusit Zoo was built by Thailand's late King Chulalongkorn the Great, or King Rama V the Great, in 1898 as a private royal garden, before it has been developed and opened as a zoo and a public park since the King Rama VII reign. (TNA)