Thailand safari park a white elephant

CHIANG MAI - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra opened Thailand's biggest safari park yesterday, even though the venture, dubbed a $41 million white elephant, remains short of safari animals.

"It will be like Disneyland, but more focused on nature," Thaksin said at a lavish opening ceremony, but refused to answer questions about a deal to ship game from Kenya to the night safari park.

Brochures for the 130ha site promise an "African savannah" with "harmless animals such as elephants, giraffe and zebras". The Kenyan Government has said it will not export endangered animals after an uproar by conservationists.

- REUTERS