The zoo, part of Thailand's ambitious plans to
develop the northern capital into a tourist destination to rival Hong Kong's Disneyland, is only the second of its kind in Asia.
Experts from the Singapore Night Safari helped
design the park.
Built at a cost of US$30 million, the zoo is located
on 100 hectares of land in the Doi Suthep Pui
National Park and features four zones meant to replicate different ecological systems from around the world.
It has been touted by the government as a key
attraction to lure more CEI visitors to Thailand.
The safari has been beset by controversy since
it was proposed by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2002.
Nonetheless, the safari programme welcomed
nearly one million visitors, mostly Thais, in the
seven weeks following its soft opening in November.
ChiangMai safari opens as part of northern drive
BANGKOK Thailand's long-awaited Chiang Mai Night Safari officially opened its gates to paying visitors on January 1.