The elephant park mega project in Chiang Mai

The elephant park mega project in Chiang Mai

The government spent about 700 million baht on the elephant park as the second stage of its multi-billion baht Chiang Mai world mega project. The elephant park will cover 6,000 rai of land in Doi Suthep-Pui national park. This project is part of the ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s drive to turn Chiang Mai into a world class tourist attraction to compete with Disneyland in Hong Kong. There are some advantages of Chiang Mai Elephant Park. The theme of the elephant park would feature a jungle-like habitat. The animals would live in natural conditions, roaming the forest for food. The number of elephants in the park would be more than 200. It’s also include those now roaming city streets, and so-called unemployed elephants. Moreover, others would come from nearby elephant camps, including Mae Sa camp, which the director of Night Safari claimed that they caused environment problems including pollution of the Mae Sa River. However, there are some disadvantages of the elephant park. The elephant park would lead to confrontation between local villagers and the animals over land, food, and water. Furthermore, there would be the environmental and social effects of the elephant park. Nonetheless, the Chiang Mai world project would change the image of Chiang Mai from charming historical and cultural site with Lanna tradition to a modern tourist town. Thus, the tourist will bypass Chiang Mai for other nearby province where beauty and nature are conserved.

However, there must be many problems follow these project. If the recommendation are followed, the problems should be solved. For instance, The government should set up a zone for the animal and the people, by dividing lands outside the park to the people to live and for their agriculture. Furthermore, the government should work with the local villagers, by asking them their opinion of what they think, and what they want to be done. If this project are possible, Chiang Mai will become more popular places among the tourists.