Information
Landmark: Dusit ZooCity: Bangkok
Country: Thailand
Continent: Asia
Dusit Zoo, Bangkok, Thailand, Asia
Overview
Dusit Zoo, or Khao Din Zoo, was one of Bangkok’s oldest and best-known animal parks, set in the Dusit District just a short walk from the King Rama V Monument and the grand white walls of Dusit Palace.For nearly 60 years, the zoo welcomed visitors before closing in 2018 to make way for Dusit Central Park, a larger green space where grass will stretch wide under the sun.The zoo may have closed its gates, but it once stood at the heart of Thailand’s conservation work and drew crowds of locals and tourists who lingered by the tiger enclosure.Before it closed, Dusit Zoo boasted standout features-like shady paths where peacocks wandered freely.The zoo was home to more than 1,600 creatures-mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians-among them rare species from Thailand and far-flung corners of the globe, like a bright green tree frog clinging to a bamboo stalk.The zoo was famous for its Southeast Asian wildlife, especially the Thai elephants swaying in the shade and the sleek, watchful tigers.Gibbons, orangutans, and a handful of monkeys, their calls echoing through the trees.Peacocks strutted, flamingos stood like pink flames, and hornbills called from the trees.Fish dart through the ponds while small reptiles bask on sun-warmed stones.Number two.Dusit Zoo was arranged into themed areas that reflected different animal types and habitats, like the African Savannah, where lions lounged in the shade and zebras grazed near tall giraffes.Asian wildlife teems with life-from the striped prowl of tigers to the slow grace of Asian elephants and the quick, lilting calls of gibbons.Step into the Reptile House, where sleek snakes coil, lizards dart across warm rocks, and crocodiles watch with unblinking eyes.Bird Park is a sprawling aviary filled with vibrant tropical birds and rare, exotic species, their calls echoing through the warm, leafy air.Aquatic Zone: See shimmering schools of fish from calm freshwater streams to the rolling waves of the open sea.Number three.The zoo offered plenty for kids, from a bright jungle-themed playground to hands-on exhibits that taught them about wildlife conservation.Visitors could meet the animals up close in safe, well‑supervised spaces, from the gentle petting zoo to the feeding area where goats nibbled grain from open palms.Number four.At Dusit Zoo, visitors could spread a blanket in a picnic area, sit by the still lake, or rest in the cool shade while taking in the lush greenery.Boating: Visitors can rent a small boat and paddle across the zoo’s wide artificial lake, where the water glints under the shade of thick, green trees.Five.At Dusit Zoo, the Conservation and Education team worked to protect wildlife, teaching visitors how to safeguard endangered species and the forests they call home.The zoo took part in several conservation programs aimed at protecting Thailand’s endangered wildlife, including the stealthy Indochinese tiger and the ancient, armor‑skinned Siamese crocodile.The zoo shut its gates for good in 2018, making way for Dusit Central Park-a sprawling new development with shady lawns, bustling shopping malls, sleek office towers, and homes where families might watch the sunset from their balconies.When the zoo shut its gates for good, some people mourned the loss of a favorite weekend stop, while others simply shrugged.Many people hoped the new park would carry on the spirit of environmental awareness, but others felt the sting of losing the zoo’s century-old charm, remembering the creak of its wooden gates.Dusit Central Park, part of the upcoming development, will reshape the area into a vibrant urban retreat with shady green spaces, airy gardens scented with jasmine, and sleek, modern amenities.The new park will stay open to everyone, but its design will highlight sustainability and blend green spaces with the pulse of the city-think shady oak trees beside busy sidewalks.Before the closure, visitors could drop by any day between 8:00 in the morning and 6:00 in the evening, when the gates usually swung shut with a soft clang.Adults pay about 150–200 THB, kids 50–100, and Thai nationals get a discount-like paying less than the cost of a street-market snack.You’ll find it at 71 Rama 5 Road in Dusit, Bangkok, just steps from the Dusit Palace and the golden teak halls of Vimanmek Mansion.Getting there’s simple-just grab a taxi or hop on public transport, with the BTS Skytrain and busy bus stops only a short walk away.Dusit Zoo may be gone, but its legacy still shapes Bangkok’s story-especially in wildlife conservation and teaching the public, much like the lively roar once heard from its lion enclosure.The new Dusit Central Park aims to offer a vast public green space, and many hope the redevelopment will keep touches of the zoo’s environmental and educational spirit-like shaded walkways where children once watched hornbills.
