Commencing Tuesday evening, animals – including hippos, elephants and tigers – are being sent to the newly built Naypyitaw Zoo, sources said.
An eyewitness told Mizzima that the zoo in the new capital has little vegetation and residents are concerned that without proper facilities the lives of the animals will be threatened. Naypyitaw is hotter on average than Rangoon.
Though over 100 years old and poorly equipped, Rangoon Zoo has lush tropical trees, lakes and a large population to support the animals' needs.
Burma has three official zoos, in Rangoon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw, and one wildlife park 16 kilometers outside Rangoon.
