A THAI tourist who visited Lopburi zoo wrote about the pitiful condition of the animals in the current excruciating heat having noticed that there was no water in some cages but the zoo management headed off the criticism by saying the animals are being regularly given water with there being taps in the cages and monkeys know how to use it, Thai Rath newspaper said today (Apr. 17).
Facebook user Kritsada Chaisongkram posted pictures of animals at this zoo with a message saying: “RIP Lopburi zoo #Please state your opinion, since it’s like this, it’s better not to have it at all, I feel sorry for the animals.
“When I arrived I was not very impressed, it’s very hot in the cages, didn’t see water, in some cages the animals lay as if they were dead, there was not a drop of water, don’t know how they are giving water, or maybe they let the animals open the tap and drink themselves.”
This newspaper’s reporters contacted Kritsada and he said that he checked out the zoo because he thought of taking his grandchildren there and was shocked by the condition.
Upon entering he got a very bad smell from the goat and sheep cages, walking further in he saw that many of the cages were dirty as if they had not been taken care of. He also noticed that the water had either dried up or there was no water at all in the current hot weather.
However he did see that the military-run zoo is feeding the animals well with there being so much food in some cages that it is rotting.
He later searched online and saw that others had voiced their concern about this zoo for more than eight years now. One person said in 2022 the condition was severe but this year it is much more so.
The reporters contacted this zoo’s management with one official saying the manager is away on Songkran holiday but the animals are regularly given water. In fact there are taps in all cages and monkeys know how to turn it on to drink water.
He added that some of the photos shared were old ones.
Moreover the zoo’s budget to take care of its 620 animals is quite small, the entrance fee is 30 baht an adult and 20 baht a child. Around 200 visitors a day usually come on weekends and holidays.
The general public is welcome to volunteer at the zoo which is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Lopburi zoo animals. Photos from Kritsada Chaisongkram’s Facebook page and shared by Thai Rath
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