Zoo moves animals for rally

[Flashermac]

Bangkok Post

11 Mar 2010

 

 

Dusit Zoo has relocated more than a dozen animals amid fears that areas around the zoo could be disrupted by Red Shirt rallies.

 

Fourteen of the 2,000 animals have been moved to zoos in Nakhon Ratchasima and Songkhla since Monday. They included three elephants, two cranes, six red kangaroos and three wallabies.

 

Elephants and anteaters were moved to Khao Khiew Zoo in Chon Buri last April for the same reason.

 

Dusit Zoo director Kanchai Saenwong yesterday said the 14 animals were the first to be moved because their cages were close to Uthong Nai Road, which runs between the zoo and parliament. The zoo will relocate more animals if the situation worsens, he said.

 

"We have prepared boxes and cages and have vet teams on 24-hour standby," Mr Kanchai said. "In case of an emergency, we are ready to take care of the wildlife in the zoo."

 

Animal keepers will be close to the animals to reduce their stress during the relocation and the zoo had stockpiled food for animals in case of an emergency, he said.

 

"We have already stocked amounts of food for 10 days to prevent any food shortage. We plan to close the zoo, if the situation gets out of control. We will monitor and evaluate the situation on a day-to-day basis."

 

Mr Kanchai has estimated that in the worst case scenario, the zoo's revenue will be cut by half.

 

March and April normally are the peak period for the zoo, as schools are closed during that time.

 

The zoo said it expected income this month to drop from 7 million baht to 5 million baht.

 

Meanwhile, the zoo has tried to improve the quality of life for animals during the dry season by providing them with frozen food.

 

Nuntanit Kulcharoen, a zoo nutritionist, said frozen food for chimpanzees, orangutans, tigers, smooth-coated otters and elephants had been prepared. Frozen food could help reduce their stress when temperatures rise.

 

Spraying the animals with water is also another way to reduce heat stress, she said.

 

 

[Torneyboy]

six red kangaroos and three wallabies.

 

 

They could let these out into the crowd ..they sort them out

[Flashermac]

But the red 'roos might join the protest.

 

 

[cavanami]

Are the Red Shirts going to make "anteaters sandwiches" or something?

[Torneyboy]

Oh no...