COMMENTARY
Wildlife unlikely to be amused
Ploenpote Atthakor
Tell me I am old-fashioned. But I don't simply buy the Zoological Park Organisation's (ZPO) plan to build a water amusement park at Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo. Sophon Dumnui, the ZPO chief, recently unveiled the 50-million-baht park plan, together with a project to construct a new zoo in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani which will begin next year.
The park, which is due for completion at the end of next year, is set to be the country's first fun park in a state-run zoo. The new facility is expected to draw more visitors to the 545-rai zoo on Nakhon Ratchasima-Pak Thong Chai road, which is also a major tourist attraction of the Northeast.
Mr Sophon explained that the new water park will give young visitors more options for spending leisure time, particularly in summer, normally the low season for the zoo as the heat normally drives away people from the place.
The ZPO chief believes that if Nakhon Ratchasima zoo can provide a cool facility like the planned water amusement park, which will be located on a 20-rai plot of land within the zoo compound, it will be able to maintain the number of visitors all year round. The park, he said, will not only serve as a good escape for Isan's notoriously hot weather during summer, the modern facility will also help boost income for the establishment as the facility will surely help it sells more tickets, bringing more cash into the coffers.
That, he pointed out, would enable the agency which is a state-run enterprise to remain financially self-reliant and depend less on government subsidies.
The 50-million-baht plan has already drawn criticism from wildlife advocates, who express deep concern for the possible negative impact of fun parks on wildlife animals. Are these people overreacting? I think not. In fact, their argument is more than valid _ that the ZPO should well realise the difference in the objectives of the zoo and fun park, for the two are based on distinctly different principles. One is a learning place while the other is for entertainment.
Needless to say, to place a fun park in a zoo risks sabotaging tranquillity _ a major characteristic of the zoo.
At worst, the fun park could be a disturbance to zoo animals.
There is nothing wrong in making a zoo more attractive to visitors and the 50-million-baht budget could do a great deal to improve the facility to better serve visitors. This would be on one condition _ the efforts must not compromise the welfare of the animals.
Besides, we have every reason to be concerned about the new plan as it remains unclear if the Nakhon Ratchasima zoo management has prepared any measures to mitigate the physical impact which will surely occur during the park's construction over the next 12 months until it is opened to the public.
It is highly important that the ZPO and zoo management strictly keep zoos as a learning place that allows young visitors to acquire knowledge about wildlife animals and their role in nature. This is to instil conservation awareness in the young minds as part of the nurturing process to groom them into becoming learned and responsible adults.
If we look back at its past performance, we have to admit that the ZPO deserves credit for its success in keeping a good reputation in zoo management. Unlike those poorly operated by local municipality offices in some provinces, it is evident that all the zoos under ZPO including Dusit Zoo in Bangkok, Khao Kheow Zoo in Chon Buri, as well as those in Chiang Mai and Songkhla, fare quite well _ some with regional recognition.
However, we do expect the ZPO to staunchly keep up the good work, keeping its priorities fixed on conservation, and never giving in to the desire for financial gain that distracts it from being what it is meant to be.
Ploenpote Atthakor is Deputy News Editor, Bangkok Post.
Bangkok Post Nov. 14, 2007