However, the king later bequeathed it to the government. Henceforth, the botanical garden saw transformation to a private zoo and garden in 1938, and was named as 'Dusit Zoo'. From February 1954, it came under the administrative umbrella of the Zoological Park Organization. Spread across an area of 47 hectares, the zoo today houses more than 2,000 animals and 1000 birds, picked from different parts of Thailand and abroad. These animals are placed together and are segregated into communities, depending on their individual species.
Apart from wildlife viewing, which forms the major attraction, another
prominent draw of the park is its sparkling lake, covering an overall
area of 12 hectares. There are facilities for boating also and visitors
can rent boats and paddle their way round the lake, soaking the greenery
around. The shady groves in the park provide some good options for
picnicking. Often, families sit and snack tit-bits under the cushy areas
of the trees. For people who enjoy eating junk food, various options are
available in the form of food joints located inside the park.When it comes to children, entertainment facilities in the park are galore. The zoo especially has various leisure alternatives for kids. There is a special Children's Zoo, which displays small animals that are of particular interest to kids. There is also an amusement playground, with some exciting rides. Another activity enjoyed by most children is feeding breadcrumbs to the tiny fishes in the lake water. In fact, whether children, youngsters or adults; Dusit Zoo provides a very good breathing space to everyone treading to its greens.