I’m going to debunk this viral sensationalist thread about Khao Kheow Zoo and Moo Deng by user doggtism. I will also…

I’m going to debunk this viral sensationalist thread about Khao Kheow Zoo and Moo Deng by user doggtism. I will also highlight other threads written by Thai people. My aim is to provide further context, offer clarity, and improve the readers’ perspective. 🧵

I’d like to begin with, if you are someone who absolutely does not believe in zoos, then that’s fine, I am not here to change your mind. That is not the conversation I want to have here. Instead, I’ll be addressing the main claims about the Zoo and Moo Deng.

let’s start with Khao Kheow Zoo, It is located in a natural forest, surrounded by mountains and is largest open zoo in Thailand at 2,000 acres. I mention this because the thread left it out, and it seems many people think it’s a small, dinky zoo.

For context, KKZ (Khao Kheow Zoo) receives some government support but relies heavily on visitors for revenue. Despite heavy financial struggles post-covid, they still take in decommissioned animals from abusive backgrounds that no one else will care for.

These animals have access to off-exhibit areas that the public doesn’t get access to. These enclosures give animals more space to roam, rest, or retreat when they are not being seen by visitors. They are NOT just hanging out full time in their exhibit closures. most of these animals were born in captivity and or were rescues, the reality is, the zoo needs to make income so that they can fund their facilities, programs and staff to care for the animals, so they allow visitors to feed the animals. However, visitors are only allowed to feed certain animals, NOT ALL like this poster claimed. The zoo has specific guidelines to ensure safety and the well being of the animals. There exists an accountability mechanism. Generally, food for animals can be purchased at designated stalls within the zoo, which allows guests to interact with some of the species in a controlled manners. I’d like to conclude this tweet by stating that, even with this in mind, you don’t have to agree with the idea of visitors interacting with animals; that is a personal belief you are entitled to hold. there is no need to spread misinformation around the interaction process.

Back to my point about the animal facilities. Here is the common hippo’s living space as an example. It is spacious, green and entirely suitable for the species. It’s unfair to select a few images to highlight cleanliness issues. You’re shocked that there’s dirt and fauna growing on the walls of a 2000 acres zoo? And somehow telling people to not support an underfunded and struggling zoo filled with hardworking experts and a passionate and respected zoo director is supposed to achieve what? Khao Kheow Zoo (KKZ) is recognized nationally for its expansive grounds, which are designed to provide safe and practical environments for both the animals and their caregivers.

Besides the bird, whose only crime is relaxing in a less aesthetic corner of the zoo, the other animals have their own off-exhibit enclosures. The penguins aren’t just on concrete; that photo was taken on the bridge that they use to walk between enclosures.

I’m not sure what the purpose of this tweet was but this is Southeast Asia. Monkeys here are like what raccoons are to Americans.

Talking of the monkeys, they can be very aggressive, their claws and fangs can cause damage to other animals, which is why it’s so important for Moo Deng’s keeper to be with her during feeding time. this user’s post is accurate and gives good insight into Moo Deng’s routine:

[my lunch break is over] I’ll be back later

let’s establish some facts about the elephants and debunk misinformation about Asian elephant management at KKZ I’m not sure why we need to provide evidence that the zoo doesn’t use shackles/chains. There seems to be a misunderstanding that shackles and chains are inherently harmful. They aren’t. At KKZ, they maybe *sometimes* used *temporarily* to manage elephants. This is a practical solution for injured animals, bull elephants in heat (who can become very territorial and aggressive), and during veterinary procedures. etc Why? Professionals specifically use iron because it is more comfortable compared to rope, which can cause burns, injure elephants and lead to infections. Have you ever tried managing multiple 5-ton elephants as a 50-70kg human? Ensuring human safety is also equally as important. It’s also worth noting that using such restraints allows for necessary medical care or rehabilitation, particularly for elephants rescued from abusive environments, these elephants are often very traumatised, reactive and pose a danger to themselves and humans. Unless you have genuine, actionable advice to offer professionals, please refrain from imposing your moral views on matters you may not fully understand. The Zoo’s vet has already established that the elephant mahouts (a Thai term for trained professionals responsible for the care of elephants) do not use hooks or physical force that would hurt the elephants. The vet team actively monitors the elephants’ health by regularly inspecting their excrement for indicators of stress or illness. There also seems to be a misunderstanding that the bullhook or ankus (the traditional tool used to manage elephants) are inherently bad, when in reality many mahouts use them gently to provide elephants with guidance and signal for mainly the safety of the elephants and those around them. You can observe this when they guide the elephants back into their private enclosure, which also includes a pool and watering area, as the elephants at the zoo regularly bathe and swim. Physical contact between mahouts and elephants is not only unavoidable but is necessary. You cannot manage and care for certain individual elephants without mahouts, they are not true wild creatures, the majority of them are logging elephants and some come from generation’s of “domesticated” herds. Claiming that these elephants should simply be in the wild rather than in captivity shows a lack of understanding that even the average Thai citizen possesses. The situation with elephants is far more complex than that and requiress significant resources and substantial legal reforms. Lastly, there’s also misinformation spreading that the zoo accepts elephant rides. They don’t do this, this is not true either.

Can I just add that calling for a boycott of Khao Kheow zoo is so incredibly shallow and short sighted. Please allow them to improve and progress naturally with time. To lose this zoo would be devastating for conservation, people and animals. More facts: KKZ is the first zoo in Thailand to be awarded animal welfare certification by both the Southeast Asian Zoo Association (SEAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). Everything I’ve outlined here is the kind of education (and more) you would receive from the zoo’s staff if you could understand Thai. The reason many non-Thai visitors leave without gaining this understanding is largely due to language barriers because most staff members don’t speak English. Unless you’re willing to volunteer as an educator at the zoo, please stop assuming these professionals are uneducated or abusive toward animals. It is so incredibly cruel to bash the hard working staff at KKZ. The zoo’s budget was heavily dependent on government funding, but that has decreased over time, which placed more pressure on them to generate income through visitors and activities.

Pausing this thread to say that I do not wish to see anyone harass @doggtism. Please do not use the information I’ve spent time writing to cause harm to others. it would be the right thing for @doggtism to drop an apology to the Zoo, even if it seems hard!

I wrote a bit about mahouts and their ankus tool here, which is a traditional instrument used to guide and train elephants:

yammi@sighyam · Oct 2, 2024

You question the legitimacy of my thread because you don’t understand the purpose of the tool, so let me break it down. Not all mahouts who use bullhooks (ankus) are hurting the elephant. Many mahouts now use blunt ones that are essentially just sticks, it’s a highly effective tool for guiding and communicating with elephants via touch/strokes and taps. At KKZ, I don’t even think they use this. I think they use their arms actually. In some elephant sanctuaries, mahouts use blunt ankus. Why can’t mahouts just use their hands? Some mahouts prefer using a stick instead of their hands to apply different pressures and strokes. The stick offers a distinct sensory experience that helps elephants better understand their cues. the mahout is also able to reach various parts of an elephant’s body with an ankus. For some elephants, tapping in different spots communicates different meanings or instructions as well. But that’s all I know. This was the information given to me by mahouts in Thailand and I trust them because they are doing good work advocating for elephants. Hope it helps!

I love you, my baby. Grow up to be old and live a full healthy life. Stay a little damp always, Moo Deng ❤️

@and_khamoo @KhaokheowZoo it’s clear that this language barrier has created an environment of misunderstanding. here are some links I find valuable. elephant swimming show:

Tangmo Mopet@TMtheEQplusNerd · Oct 1, 2024

Moo deng zoo is "Abuse": a Thai response (🧵) First of one of the claims you said about the elephant is mostly from a western tabloid which is trying to say that the elephant was "abused" for the tourist.