Paws for thought! Bangkok's oldest zoo to close

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Tourists and locals are saying goodbye to Bangkok's oldest public zoo.

Dusit Zoo, set in a leafy tree-lined glade, is a tranquil oasis in the noisy, bustling Thai capital.

The zoo, which opened to visitors 80 years ago, will close for good at the end of September. A new zoo will be built 50 kilometers away at Pathum Thani, well outside the city.

Five Colored Monkey /CGTN Photo

The new park will be three times bigger than the current site and will include a research and breeding center. But it is still at the design stage and won't be ready for at least three years.

"The animals will have a better quality of life in a spacious new home," said an announcement by the Thailand Zoological Park Organization.

Shade for the giraffes and zebra /CGTN Photo

Dusit is home to 190 different species of animals and reptiles, totaling more than 1,100 exhibits. The most famous is Mali, at 52 the oldest hippopotamus in Thailand. Maya has produced 14 baby hippos.

The animals will be moved to other zoos around the country until the new facility is completed. The zoo is popular with both Thais and foreign holidaymakers. Most Bangkok residents have visited at some time.

Asian elephant /CGTN Photo

Between 1.5 and two million people spend time at the zoo each year. Daily visitor numbers have doubled since the announcement of its closure as people take a final look at one of the city's institutions.

Dusit was originally a private zoo for the Thai royal family. It can trace its origins back to 1898 when King Chulalongkorn brought flower bulbs back from Europe and set up a botanical garden. Later small animals such as deer and monkeys were introduced.

In March 1938 Dusit was opened to the general public.