BANGKOK, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The 120-year-old Dusit Zoo in the heart of the Thai capital Bangkok will be closed at the end of this month with all animals being transferred to provincial zoos.
The public relations department of Dusit Zoo, located opposite the Royal Plaza and the parliament, confirmed on Wednesday that the zoo is closing at the end of this month and all of its animals will be transferred to several provincial zoos.
Dusit Zoo, which has opened since 1898, is part of Dusit Palace. So are the adjacent Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall, Suan Amporn Garden, Vimanmek Mansion and the parliament.
A new parliament is being built on the bank of Chao Phraya River several kilometers away.
His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn has donated some 120 acres of land in Thanyaburi district of Pathum Thani province, about 40 km north of Bangkok, to build a new zoo as replacement for Dusit Zoo.
In the meantime, those animals will be relocated to Khao Kheow open zoo in Chonburi province in eastern Thailand, Chiang Mai zoo in the northern region, Songkhla zoo in the southern region, Ubon Ratchathani zoo, Nakhon Ratchasima zoo and Khon Kaen zoo in the northeastern region.