The zoo, which is on Rama V Road, is currently home to 250 species with 1,200 animals spread over 118 rai of land. The authority has prepared sandbags to block the water at the doors of the animals’ cages as well as food for about two weeks.
Water in ponds in the zoo compound had already been drained to a level where they could receive the floodwater.
Karnchai said the animals are divided into groups according to their living quarters. The first group to be evacuated to Chon Buri are those that would face difficulty if the water level reached 50 centimetres.
These included animals such as deer and barking deer, he said.
If the water level reached one metre, tigers would be relocated to Chon Buri, he said, adding birds, monkeys and crocodiles would be safe and fine in the flood.
He reiterated that the crocodile ponds have high and strong walls.
In the event of food for animals running out and can no longer be delivered, Khao Kheow zoo would send it to Dusit Zoo because it has trucks.
At present the zoo officials are working in 24-hour shifts to prepare for the floods.
As of now the Dusit zoo is still open to the public from 8am to 6pm everyday but the number of visitors had reduced to about 400 per day. Visitors had been recorded at 5,000 to 6,000 during the school break.
Karnchai personally estimates that if the floodwaters do hit the zoo, the water level would not be higher than 50 centimetres.
The Nation
