Pattaya Daily News

Neither our friend’s or ourselves found the place riveting. If this zoo was in the West, it would have been shut down and the owners charged with animal cruelty, so if you are animal lovers and easily upset, then cross this place off your agenda. Almost all the animal appeared distressed, pacing up and down in their enclosures.

Tiger cubs are taken from their mothers and given to pigs to rear and in turn the piglets are taken and given to the tigers. This may not have a psychological effect on the youngsters, but we were pretty sure it has a knock on effect on the nursing tiger. She paced the compound all the time we were there, going round in circles and it did not take rocket science to work out how unhappy she was.  The nursing pig was in a small enclosure with no means to turn around and was only able to lay down for the tiger cubs to suckle from the next enclosure through bars.

One enclosure held a rather large number of tigers waiting for food which came in dribs and drabs and only when there were tourists to drop the food into the enclosure where they scrambled to be the first to reach it, which resulted in a bit of a brawl between them.

The tiger show was an unbelievable disgrace. As you entered the building there was a bad smell which we know can’t be helped due to the number of cats in the enclosure. The cats were kept in a very narrow long cage waiting and ready to be let out into the ring to perform and their unhappiness showed in their eyes. This is no exaggeration.

Once in the ring, they were made to perform as a dog would.  Now we all know big cats were made to perform in circuses and such, but these beautiful creatures were frightened of their trainers. Their ears flattened back and they flinched every time the thin metal baton was raised. Occasionally, the tiger would take a swipe at the trainer who then hit him with the rod and smacked him with his hand until the cat did as he was instructed.

We did not bother going into the crocodile show after observing one being dragged by his tail.

The pig racing was just as bad as everything else. The poor pigs are let out so many times a day to “run” up and down the lane.

We only saw one young ape and how sorry and unhappy he appeared to be. I went to stoke his head and talk to him, when he grabbed my arm and gave such a big hug, (the only thrill from our visit). I was asked if I wanted my photo taken with him, but declined. The sad expression in the youngsters face and in his eyes was just too much.

The elephant show we thought, seemed pretty good until out came two babies, aged 2 and 3 years. They were (under instruction) doing the same tricks as the older ones. After the show, we went out to pet the elephants and I saw to my horror, fresh wounds to the 2 year olds head. I pointed this out to the trainer (mahout) and asked him why the baby had these injuries, who in turn, (after already speaking to me in English) pretended he did not understand me and went off with the youngster.

Finally, we entered a building full of tiger cubs of all ages in separate cages. Some were so young they just slept. Here you paid for a bottle of milk to feed the cubs, who appeared to be starving. I actually gave four bottles of milk to one cub which did not appear to satisfy him and continued to cry as I went along to the next. These cubs should have been with their mothers. They were all far too young to be separated in this way.

All in all, this place was full of unhappy animals that appeared to be hungry and mistreated, some doing tricks that was seen and outlawed in circuses years ago. Even what should have been a good feeling, like bottle feeding a tiger cub was marred by the apparent unhappiness of the occupants.

It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul and the eyes of these animals showed only heartache and unhappiness.

Written by: Myfanawy Evans

Related items

• Sleepy Southern Laos Border Town Hosts 12th Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF)
• The Future Map Of The World
• The Pacific Ring Of Fire
• On the Sui-Side of the Street
• The Open Road

Extensive Gallery [ 8 photos ]