ChiangMai residents want safari kept open
Residents here yesterday called on the government to keep the Chiang Mai Night Safari open.
"Without the Night Safari many of us will lose our livelihoods," Lanna Transport Service Cooperative chairman Ton Wongkaew said. His plea follows calls from some non-governmental organisations for the government to shut the safari and return its land to the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. Last Tuesday, the Cabinet agreed to transfer the safari from the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration - a public organisation - to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry. Although Natural Resources and Environment Minister Kasem Sanidwong na Ayudhaya said the safari would continue, many of those who profit from it remain worried. "We have arranged 42 buses to provide transportation to the Night Safari. Each makes about Bt600 a day. If the Night Safari is closed, we will be in a difficult situation," Ton said. Tambon Suthep Administrative Organisation chairman Karun Klaikeung said closing the park would waste the Bt1 billion in taxpayers' money spent to open it. "I know non-governmental organisations are not happy this project went ahead without a public hearing ... but the night safari is operating. Now, it's better if the government allows local people's participation in the process to solve problems," he said.
The Nation Chiang Mai
|
