The reason the zoo in Vientiane province is now in crisis probably due to its location far from the city. What do you think if the Lao government provide a piece of land of Beung Thatluang and build the zoo park? How can we help to preserve this zoo?
Ban Keun Zoological Park in Vientiane province is struggling financially, with income only half of total expenditure, according to the zoo's manager, Mr Bounchan Leephoung.
Mr Bounchan said on Tuesday that last year the park earned income of about 500 million kip through the sale of tickets to local and overseas visitors, while expenses for the year, including salaries for workers and feed for animals, was about 1 billion kip.
“It was impossible to run the business successfully and one of our shareholders had to take money from his own pocket to finance the operation of the zoo,” he told Vientiane Times by telephone.
The Lao government holds a 40 percent investment share in the zoo.
The zoo plans to sell its crocodiles and deer, but is facing problems with wildlife trade export restrictions.
Mr Bounchan, who has been working at the zoo since it was established in 1994, said the number of tourists visiting the park continues to decline. In 2006, total visitor numbers were around 80,000, but there were fewer in 2007.
This year, the number of visitors has been unusually low, bringing in income of only about 100 million kip since January. He said that if the situation continues, the zoo would struggle to earn the 500 million kip it has averaged in past years.
He said the drop in visitor numbers was due to the growing number of tourist attractions in other areas, especially in Vientiane province. The zoo rarely receives new animal species, so people who visit the park seldom come back again.
“The atmosphere now is very different from the days when the zoo had just opened; then there were large crowds,” he said. “It was not a big surprise, as it was the first zoo to open in Laos .”
Mr Bounchan said zoo shareholders are well aware of the situation but they have not provided any concrete solutions to the crisis, adding that all the management could do was to run the business carefully.
He said Ban Keun Zoo does not intend to import animal species from neighbouring countries just to increase business. This is not the case in Chiang Mai , Thailand , where thousands of people visit the city's zoo just to see the Chinese panda exhibited there.
The shareholders are discussing how to revive the business, but as yet no solutions have been identified.
Ban Keun Zoological Park employs about 80 staff to take care of 2,000 animals, including a white elephant, which is believed to bring good fortune to the nation.
Just how far is the Zoo from the capitol. People don't usually go anywhere without a real major attraction. I've never been to this zoo so I don't know what the zoo layout is like.
Depending on the distance from the city. Instead of moving why not use that money to make the zoo better such as adding rides, some other attractions beside the animal for people to see and do.
Lao people usually live with all kind animals in their villages. That is why they don't bother to visit the zoo park.
I doubt they live next to a white elephant.
Mueseums and Zoos in the States are mostly visited by schools. Maybe funding towards field trips for the schools to bring them to these Zoos will do wonders for both.
Lao people usually live with all kind animals in their villages. That is why they don't bother to visit the zoo park.
I doubt they live next to a white elephant.
Mueseums and Zoos in the States are mostly visited by schools. Maybe funding towards field trips for the schools to bring them to these Zoos will do wonders for both.
I thought about that too but school either do not have bus or budget to rent a bust to take students to the zoo. If the zoo provide the ride they wouldn't make any money and that destroy the original intent.
