Hua Hin Zoo

[Big Boy]

Driving Mrs BB to Market Village this morning, the route was littered with these:

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Now this is of special interest to me. Just before Christmas, a huge piece of jungle was cleared in front of my house, and the guy in charge said it was being cleared for Hua Hin Zoo. Everything has been quiet since. In fact the word has been they couldn't get permission to go ahead (OK, TIT, it was only time before brown envelopes became fat enough).

I am now wondering where this zoo is going to open in 16 days time.

- Firstly, it's almost 3 months since the jungle was cleared. Jungle, being jungle it now needs clearing again - OK a low level jungle this time, but jungle all the same.

- 16 days, and not a single fence, cage or wall.

- 16 days and no drainage (where will animal waste products go?)

- 16 days and no water to anywhere.

- 16 days and no electricity to anywhere.

- 16 days and absolutely no shelter for animals.

- 16 days and no admin buildings.

- 16 days and no road infrastructure for tour buses.

I find it incredulous that they could open a zoo here in 16 days time.

So, was the original information correct, "the word has been they couldn't get permission to go ahead," and is the zoo opening up elsewhere? If so, has anybody seen such a place under construction?

[Terry]

This might be the place 0.5 km further on from us at the Lodge

It's been being built for the last 7 years.........................

I'll check it out later and see if it's finally going to happen.

[Big Boy]

I hope you're right Terry - I can't see it being anything other than foolish/cruel to open at the site outside our house, in such a short timescale. Hopefully the site manager was full of BS, and these signs going up now are just coincidence.

[usual suspect]

I've never liked the idea of Thais being in charge of captive animals.
A couple of years back now there was a damning report on how the animals were kept at 'Hua Hin Safari'. H.H. can now boast it has it's very own 'Best intelligent animal show' on 112 at Hua Hintique, & with a recent spate of elephants turning moody I hope no such Zoo every opens here.

[PeteC]

I hope you're right Terry - I can't see it being anything other than foolish/cruel to open at the site outside our house, in such a short timescale. Hopefully the site manager was full of BS, and these signs going up now are just coincidence.

You have some strong minded and open voice neighbors and they would never put up with the smell and night noise associated with a zoo so close to residential housing. I know, really no zoning here but an environmental assessment demand could put the thing on hold for years if that's what it takes. Pete

[Big Boy]

I agree US. However, a zoo will be low level, so probably better than high rise condos stealing our light. Don't relish the additional flies/smells though.

[Big Boy]

You have some strong minded and open voice neighbors and they would never put up with the smell and night noise associated with a zoo so close to residential housing.

You are right, 2 of our neighbours know a lot of people in high places, but we all know the power of a big fate brown one in Asia.

I always expected it to go ahead, but to put up notices about every 20 yards saying that it's coming in 16 days time on what is still basically a green field site is madness very Thai.

Rottweiler vs Giraffe - could be interesting

[STEVE G]

This might be the place 0.5 km further on from us at the Lodge

It's been being built for the last 7 years.........................

I'll check it out later and see if it's finally going to happen.

I live near to you Terry and my partner mentioned that a zoo was opening down your road when I was out in January.

[Big Boy]

Hmmmm........... makes you think. I wonder what the land outside my house was cleared for? It was a very professional job and they did a really good job. Started growing back within weeks though. The guy in charge was adamant about it being a zoo.

The land itself was not for sale, but only a 20 year lease, so I can't see a developer building loads of homes there.

So, was it a typical Thai business venture i.e. there's a zoo opening in Hua Hin, which might make money. We'll open a zoo as well to make money. I've thought about that, but Thai style would be to open another zoo next door, not a couple of miles away.

i guess I'll have to wait to see what happens - maybe the brown envelopes weren't fat enough after all.

[Terry]

Just checked out the 'zoo' near me.

Plenty of activity, blacktopping the car park and internal roads.
20 or so cars parked outside - normaly none.
However, no signage anywhere near us

Seems a lot to do in 16 days - but hey T.I.T.

Interesting................

[Big Boy]

Seems a lot to do in 16 days - but hey T.I.T.

Interesting................

Not as much as they'd need to do in 16 days outside my house.

[usual suspect]

B.B..if they've taken great trouble to make the plot beside you very tidy & level a while back...could that have been to take accurate 'level' readings?
(Wonder why it's all grown through again & no other work done there..?)
On Soi 11 off the Pala U Rd..heading up they've just done the same thing..REALLY got a plot level..bare bones!..but that
WILL be for housing IMO.
Imagine tho'..having to turn up your TV to blot out 'Jungle noises'..555..

[Terry]

It's a big site.

HHFL sits on a fraction under 10 rai of land.
I estimate that the zoo could be at around 80 rai.

The entrance is quite grand with a lot of ornamental stone work and is probably influenced by a Japanese investor - although I'm not sure if he is still involved.

The owner is a well known local businessman.

Let's see what happens.

[Terry]

Paid another visit this morning and took my sons with me, as they are both fluent Thai speakers.
We spoke to a young lady who 'looked like an employee' - Don't ask me how we knew............

YES - THIS IS THE NEW ZOO due to open on 26th - she confirmed this to us.

There will be an opening evening show (Of what we dont know) and tickets will be available (how much we don't know)
The usual first class marketing skills of course.

Black topping of access road, car park finished, lots of decorations going up inside.

The grounds look quite ornamental and their appears to be a plethora of food stalls etc.

Access to the zoo area was blocked off - so cannot comment on content or conditions.

Watch this space.

[cookie102]

May not be all bad for you Terry as passing trade is always a good thing.