My first time at Chiang Mai Zoo

"My First Time At Chiang Mai Zoo"

 

         When asking people about their favorite place, it could be somewhere cool , 
nice , quiet , scenic or memorable.For me the first place that comes to mind is The Chiang
Mai Zoo in my country (Thailand).

                      Chiang Mai Zoo is organized under the patronage of His Majesty the king of 

Thailand, was established in 1974 by Mr. Harold Mason Young. It has an area of more than 

200 acres, house more than 8,000 animals in an evergreen environment comprising two 
waterfalls , reservoirs  , an open camping spots and animal bleeding areas.

                      My first visit to this zoo was when I 15 years old. I went there with my parent 
during our family holiday. At this time Chiang Mai Zoo was a pride for this province and a 
center for displaying animals from the Northern in Thailand hemisphere. However, when I 
got older, I rarely paid a visit. Because this place was for families or little kids, not suitable
for teenagers like me.

                      In 2004, I returned to Chiang Mai Zoo again because this place had new
animals. It's the Giant Panda. The government of China gave a couple giant panda as a 
friendship ambassador and to celebrated her Majesty the Queen's 6 cycle birthday anniversary.
At that time was new kind of animal for Thai people. I was so exciting to see the real giant 
panda for the first time in my life. I was walking and wondering around for an hour before. 
I reached my destination, the giant panda's cage.

 









                    

                             I just laid down on a place of lawn and watched many parents seeing and 

exciting with giant panda. Since The Chiang Mai Zoo was a public zoo an admission fee 
was relatively cheap so that everybody could come and learn about animal no matter how 
rich or poor. Also, this zoo had the Twilight Zoo which mean it opened at night. My parents 
and I were exciting and enjoying about the zoo too. I saw my mom pointed at running deers. 
I heard a tour guide giving a brief explanation about history of Giant Panda from China to
his followers.

                      It was a fun exploration and observation day in my childhood. It gave me a 
wonderful experience and knowledge about my native animals as well as other country's icon
animal such as panda from China, penguin from South Pole and Elephant from Thailand. I 
will always keep this place in my memory.     

                                     Worachai Tungsawangwong

                                             (Writer)