Sri Racha Tiger Zoo

Posted by Party Pete on June 3rd, 2010 filed in Entertainment, just visiting, sightseeing

At Sri Racha Tiger Zoo, visitors are treated to an interesting blend of capitalism and wildlife. The zoo was opened to the public on April 23rd 1997 and consists of more than 100 acres. At Sri Racha visitors can learn about, observe and even interact with wild animals.

One of the highlights is the crocodile show, which lasts for 25 minutes. The floor is constantly slick with water, and the young man makes a show of slipping over as he wrestles with the crocodiles.

Nearby is the scorpion cave, where visitors are greeted by the sight of hundreds of luminous scorpions glowing in the gloom. Also impressive is the crocodile pond, where more than a thousand crocodiles lay sunbathing. They lay so still that visitors often think they are fake.

Walk cautiously across an aerial bridge over the pond to find the tiger tunnel, where around a hundred tigers relax in a fairly natural environment. In this spacious enclosure are several caves for tigers to retreat from the heat, rocky ledges and muddy puddles. The tigers seem pretty content as they stretch their legs or bath. The enclosure is designed so that visitors can admire the tigers without intruding.

The elephant show is another highlight and is held several times a day. Music blares as a group of enormous elephants lumber into the stage area. During this show the elephants stand on their hind legs, do handstands, walk a tightrope and even play basketball.

Sri Racha is said to be the most successful tiger-breeding centre in the world. The zoo could, potentially, play an important role in the future of these highly endangered animals.

Information
Tours to Sri Racha from Pattaya are available, or you can get a bus to Si Racha and a songheaw from there. The entire journey takes just 1 hour.

The admission fee is 300B for adults, 150B for children. Opening times are 08:00 to 17:30 daily and you need at least four hours to see everything.