Khao Kheow Open Zoo th, สวนสัตว์เปิดเขาเขียว) is a large zoo in

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

. It covers an area of about 2,000 acres and contains more than 8,000 animals from more than 300 species. The zoo is located in

Si Racha Si Racha ( th, ศรีราชา, ) is a subdistrict and town in Thailand on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 120 km southeast of Bangkok in Si Racha district, Chonburi province. Si Racha is known as the provenance of the po ...

Chonburi Province Chonburi (, , ) is a province of Thailand (''changwat'') located in eastern Thailand. Its capital is also named Chonburi. Neighbouring provinces are (clockwise from north) Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, and Rayong, while the Bay of Bangkok is to ...

eastern Thailand Eastern Thailand is a region of Thailand bordering Cambodia on the east, North-Eastern Thailand, Northeastern Thailand in the north, and central Thailand on the west. Geography Eastern Thailand lies between the Sankamphaeng Range, which forms a ...

History

Es-ta-te Camp, Khao Keaw Open Zoo - panoramio

The Khao Kheow Open Zoo was established in 1974 with area of about 200 acres in

Khao Yai National Park Khao Yai National Park ( th, อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาใหญ่, , ) is a national park in Thailand. Established in 1962 as Thailand's first national park, it is the third largest national park in Thailand. Descri ...

due to the increasing number of animals in the

Dusit Zoo Dusit Zoo ( th, สวนสัตว์ดุสิต) or popularly known as Khao Din Wana (เขาดินวนา) and Khao Din (เขาดิน) was a zoo in Bangkok, Thailand. Located at Khao Din Park in Bangkok's Dusit District nex ...

. In 1978, the zoo was opened to the public. In 1984, zoological park organisation allowed on expansion the area to about 1000 acres for wildlife conservation in the Khao Yai Mountain area. Princess Sirindhorn also gave tremendous support to rescue injured animals and

wildlife Wildlife refers to undomesticated animal species, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. Wildlife was also synonymous to game: those birds and mammals that were hunted ...

in this project. Subsequently, the Thai government decided to expand the area about 800 acres more to support education and research about the environment.

Zones

The zoo is divided into several thematic zones. * African Savannah This section is designed to be habitat and environment like the animal’s natural in Africa habitat. Many animals live in the same area such as

Grant's zebra Grant's zebra (''Equus quagga boehmi'') is the smallest of the seven subspecies of the plains zebra. This subspecies represents the zebra form of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem and others across central Africa. Distribution This subspecies is dis ...

s, impalas,

springbok The springbok (''Antidorcas marsupialis'') is a medium-sized antelope found mainly in south and southwest Africa. The sole member of the genus ''Antidorcas'', this bovid was first described by the German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm ...

s, East African oryxes, giraffes,

white rhinoceros The white rhinoceros, white rhino or square-lipped rhinoceros (''Ceratotherium simum'') is the largest extant species of rhinoceros. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species. The white rhinoceros consists ...

, and South African ostriches. This zone is two acres in size and visitors can feed many of the animals. * Khao Kheow Night Safari This zone is for visitors who want to explore and experience the zoo after sunset. After dark, visitors can hear the night time sounds of animals and get the atmosphere of a wild night. * Cats Complex Park This park consists of a collection of graceful and nimble wild animals in the cat family. Visitors can observe 48 species of varying size in eight enclosures that cover a total area of 40 acres. Each enclosure area has each species nature habitats, for example,

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses ( Poaceae). However, sedge ( Cyperaceae) and rush ( Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur na ...

s, desert, lands, woodlands,

wetland A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The p ...

s, and mountains. * Walk Through Aviary Visitors can walk through the aviary area while being surrounded by more than 80 different species of birds. The aviary covers two acres and is decorated with streams, ponds, waterfalls, and many plants. This section is suitable for visitors to enjoy viewing the many birds in a natural atmosphere. * Eld’s Deer Park The deer park zone is an area for visitors to sit down and relax. The area is more than an acre in size. While there, visitors can touch the deer, take photographs of them, and feed them.

References

External links

{{authority control Zoos in Thailand Buildings and structures in Chonburi province