View source for Phuket Zoo

{{Short description|Zoo in southern Thailand}}
{{Primary sources|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox zoo
|zoo_name=Phuket Zoo
|logo=
|image= File:Phuket Zoo (2013 Dec.) - panoramio.jpg
|image_caption= The Phuket Zoo 
|image_width=
|date_opened= 1997 (original)<br>2025 (revamped)
|date_closed= 
|location= [[Phuket]], [[Thailand]]
|coordinates={{Location|7.8427918461311315|98.35794242236128}}
|area= {{convert|30|rai|ha|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phuketzoo.com/about_us.html|title=About Us|date=May 13, 2017|work=The Phuket Zoo|accessdate=September 4, 2017}}</ref>
|num_animals= 
|num_species= 
|exhibits={{hlist|Elephant show|monkey show|Bird Park|aquarium|crocodile shows|orchid garden}}
|website={{URL|http://www.phuketzoo.com}}
}}
The '''Phuket Zoo''' was a [[zoo]] located in [[Phuket]], [[Thailand]]. It was founded as a private zoo in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title=Phuket Zoo |url=https://online-phuket.com/phuket-tours/phuket-zoo#:~:text=It%20was%20opened%20in%201997 |website=Online Phuket |access-date=18 November 2023}}</ref> The zoo was located near the [[Mueang Phuket district]] and the Phuket Bay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phuketzoo.com/contact_us.html|title=Contact Us|date=May 13, 2017|work=The Phuket Zoo|accessdate=September 4, 2017}}</ref> The zoo had been embroiled in controversy over its lack of animal welfare standards and allegations of extreme cruelty to animals.<ref name=PETA>{{cite web|url=https://www.thephuketnews.com/peta-decries-appalling-conditions-at-phuket-zoo-27318.php |title=PETA decries 'appalling conditions' at Phuket Zoo|date=October 20, 2011|work=The Phuket News |accessdate=September 5, 2017}}</ref>

The zoo covered an area of {{convert|30|rai|ha|order=flip|abbr=off}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bartravel.com/english/thailand/katavot/animals.html|title=Animal Encounters in Thailand for Families |date=May 13, 2017|work=BartTravel.com |accessdate=September 4, 2017}}</ref> It was known for having close encounters with many exotic animals including [[tiger]]s, [[monkey]]s and [[elephant]]s. The zoo had many sections including areas devoted to [[crocodile]]s, elephants and monkeys while also having an aquarium and an orchard garden.

The zoo closed in 2020; the main reason for its closure being the lack of tourists due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>[https://www.khaophuket.com/%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%9B%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A7%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B9%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%81%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%95%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B7%E0%B8%AD%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B9%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A7%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%9B%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2-%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9B%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99-8751.php ‘คำรามจากป่า’สวนสัตว์ภูเก็ตโอนเสือให้มูลนิธิเพื่อนสัตว์ป่า ปรับพื้นที่เป็นสวนมะพร้าว]</ref>

==Animal shows==
[[File:Phuket Zoo (2013 Dec.) - panoramio (3).jpg|thumb|Inside Phuket Zoo]]

===Monkey shows===
The monkey show consisted of a [[macaque monkey]] doing tricks and then taking pictures with the crowd. Some of the monkey's tricks included riding a bike, playing basketball and doing exercises like push-ups and sit-ups. Afterwards, the monkey walked around with an [[oil-paper umbrella]] and took photos with guests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phuketzoo.com/monkey_show.html|title=Monkey show|date=May 13, 2017|work=The Phuket Zoo |accessdate=September 4, 2017 }}</ref>

===Elephant shows===
[[File:Asian elephant trunk.jpg|thumb|An elephant's trunk at the Phuket Zoo]]
The elephant shows consisted of a group of [[Asian elephant]]s performing tricks, with the opportunity for the guests to meet the elephants. The elephants started off by doing tricks like kicking a soccer ball and also did dances and races. At times, guests were able to feed the elephants bananas, and at the end, touch their trunks. The elephants have even been trained to ask for tips. Some people thought the shows were demeaning to the elephants involved. The elephants the zoo had were formerly logging elephants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phuketzoo.com/elephant_show.html|date=May 13, 2017|title=Elephant Show|work=The Phuket Zoo|accessdate=September 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/elephant-zoo-thailand-phuket-animal-cruelty-rave-music-a8858086.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/elephant-zoo-thailand-phuket-animal-cruelty-rave-music-a8858086.html |archive-date=2022-05-26 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |date=April 6, 2019 |title='Skeletal' baby elephant forced to bang head to rave music as Thailand zoo visitors laugh |author=Jane Dalton |work=The Independent |accessdate=April 6, 2019}}</ref>

===Crocodile shows===
While there were no encounters guests could have with the crocodiles, many guests found the shows entertaining. The highlight was when one of the trainers stuck his head in the crocodile's mouth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phuketzoo.com/crocodile_show.html|title=Crocodile Show|date=May 13, 2017|work=The Phuket Zoo|accessdate=September 4, 2017}}</ref>

==Exhibits==

===Aquarium===
The zoo had a small aquarium with a variety of fish, marine animals and reptiles, including freshwater and saltwater fish, turtles, frogs, crabs and lizards. They also had a display area showing fishing equipment and techniques of Thailand's fishermen, as well as seashells.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.luxury-thailand-travel.com/phuket-zoo.html |title=Phuket Zoo and Aquarium|date=May 13, 2017 |work=Luxury Thailand Travel |accessdate=September 4, 2017}}</ref>

===Bird Park===
The Phuket's Zoo Bird Park housed a variety of bird species, including [[toucan]]s, [[peafowl]], [[parrot]]s, [[hawk]]s, [[emu]]s and [[ostrich]]es. Some of the birds were allowed to fly freely around the park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phuketzoo.com/bird_park.html|title=Bird Park|date=May 13, 2017|work=The Phuket Zoo|accessdate=September 4, 2017}}</ref>

==Animal encounters==
As well as the opportunities to meet the animals during the shows, the Phuket Zoo allowed guests to meet some of the other animals in their collection. Some of those opportunities include getting to take photos with and pet a tiger. Formerly, guests could take pictures with and hold an [[orangutan]], but she was later confiscated by the police. The experiences were an extra fee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phuketzoo.com/photo.html|title=Photo|date=May 13, 2017|work=The Phuket Zoo|accessdate=September 4, 2017}}</ref>

==Conservation efforts by the zoo==
It did not appear that the Phuket Zoo was involved with conservation efforts to save animals worldwide. They were also not accredited by the [[South East Asian Zoos Association]] (which is the main coordinating body for zoos in Thailand) or the [[World Association of Zoos and Aquariums]].

==Milo the Orangutan==
The Phuket Zoo formerly had an orangutan named Milo. However, a petition gathered more than 10,000 signatures for her to be removed, due to her being forced to take photos with tourists and her health struggles. Due to the petition being circulated, the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division of the [[Royal Thai Police]] and Department of National Parks decided to confiscate her, after it appeared she was being kept illegally.

When the authorities came to confiscate Milo, she was not at the zoo. All pictures of her on the zoo's website were also deleted. Later in the week, Milo was found in a small cage in the jungle.

Milo died the following year of a stroke. Her poor health from her time at the zoo most likely contributed to her death.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/Milo-orangutan-dies-stroke|date=May 13, 2017|title=Milo the orangutan dies after stroke|work=The Phuket News|accessdate=September 29, 2018}}</ref>

==Controversy==
While many guests enjoyed their time at the Phuket Zoo, many visitors found the zoo to be cruel and inhumane.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293920-d1018243-r169241718-Phuket_Zoo-Phuket.html|date=May 13, 2017 |title=Review of Phuket Zoo |work=TripAdvisor |accessdate=September 4, 2017}}</ref>

===Disappearance of animals===
Some guests{{who|date=September 2017}} have complained that animals at the zoo including [[snow leopard]]s and [[camel]]s disappeared without any word from the zoo. Some people{{who|date=September 2017}} speculated that the animals may have become sick and were sold off before they died.

===Monkeys===
The [[macaque monkey]] used in the monkey shows had a rope around their neck and were forced to do tricks. One exhibit held two monkeys, but one was more aggressive than the other, forcing it to become malnourished. One [[gibbon]] was even held in a staff-member's arms all day and stayed in a locked cage at night with no room to move around.

===Elephants===
In 2019, a two-year-old elephant died from injuries sustained after performing for tourists.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baby Elephant Dies at Thailand Zoo Days After Being Forced to Perform For Tourists |url=https://people.com/pets/baby-elephant-dies-phuket-zoo-thailand/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref>

===Crocodiles===
The crocodile exhibit was highly criticised for being overcrowded, small and dirty. Many people{{who|date=September 2017}} said the water the crocodiles lived in was too shallow and filled with faeces. They have also been caught on video being poked at with brooms.

===Turtle===
A video of a turtle at the Phuket Zoo's Aquarium sparked controversy as its exhibit seemed to be too small for it to move around.

===Bird Park===
Some of the birds in the Bird Park were chained up and some guests{{who|date=September 2017}} said the bird's cages were too small and overcrowded.

===Drugging of animals===
Due to the fact that many animals were in close contact with humans, many have speculated that the animals were drugged to prevent them from harming visitors.{{who|date=September 2017}}

===Inadequate exhibits===
Many of the animal's exhibits, including those of the ostriches and deer, had no grass, shrubbery or enrichment toys. The [[Asiatic black bear]] enclosure was just a concrete pit.

==Efforts to change or close the Phuket Zoo==
Animal rights groups such as [[PETA]] called on the zoo to "Improve the Living Conditions of the Animals..."<ref name=PETA/> There were also plenty of petitions online including one on [[Change.org]] calling for Phuket Zoo to be shut down.

==Animal list==
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Crocodile]]
* [[Asian elephant]]
* [[Sumatran tiger]]
* [[Toucan]]
* [[Hawk]]
* [[Ostrich]]
* [[Emu]]
* [[Asiatic black bear]]
* [[White-tailed deer]]
*[[Plains zebra]]
*[[Giraffe]]
*[[Yak]]
*[[Wildebeest]]
*[[Chital|Spotted deer]]
* [[Turtle]]
* [[Fish]]
* [[Crab]]s
* [[Macaque monkey]]
* [[Gibbon]]
* [[Parrot]]
* [[Frog]]
* [[Lizard]]
* [[Peacock]]
* [[Snake]]s
* [[Otter]]s
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|40em}}

{{Zoos of Thailand}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Zoos in Thailand]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Phuket province]]