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Thailand Zoo: Admire The Animals, Then You Can Eat Them |
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Written by D.L. McCracken
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Thursday, 17 November 2005 |
 In a move that is being criticised by animal rights goups, a zoo in Thailand will mark its official opening with something one wouldn't ordinarily expect from zoo keepers - not only will some invited guests be able to see a wide variety of exotic animals, they'll be able to taste a few of them as well.
Adding new meaning to 'a day at the zoo', the Chiang Mai Night Safari Park in Thailand's Chiang Mai Province government committee chairman Plodprasop Suraswadi said VIP guests who attend the grand opening will first enjoy an escorted tour of the park and offered the opportunity to enjoy the magnificence of lions, tigers and elephants only three of an estimated 2,000 animals of over 100 different species in the zoo.
Following the zoo tour, these same guests will be taken back to their choice of five restaurants operated by the zoo and subsequently will be given the choice of some of the very animals they marvelled during the tour only this time, instead of watching the animals, they get to eat them.
For approxiametly $110 U.S. VIPs will be offered several exotic menu choices ranging from tiger,lion, elephant, giraffe and for an appetizer they may sample such delicacies as crocodile, snake and dog. Desserts include various insects and to wash it all down, they can sip on some mongoose blood (shaken, not stirred).
The Wildlife Fund of Thailand has been highly critical of the zoo's VIP menu fearing the idea of offering exotic animals on a restaurant menu will further encourage the increasing practice of wildlife poaching and trafficking in the regions.
Wildlife Fund spokesperson Suraphol Duangkae said, "Serving rare animals on the table confirms that Thailand is ignoring policies for wildlife preservation. Thailand's image is already bad for trading animals and being a transit and laundering point for smugglers.The zoo will make only the image worse by serving rare animals."
Meanwhile back at the zoo - will that be medium or rare? |
