HARD times have forced the famous Tiger Zoo in Sriracha, Thailand, to offer their 11 elephants for sale, after closing April 30 due to COVID-19.

The zoo in Chon Buri province put an ad on its website listing the 11 elephants and their caretakers available for purchase. The site is asking for 3 million baht (US$96,000) per elephant and offers bulk discounts for anyone willing to take in the entire herd of 11.

The zoo has been a popular tourist attraction in Thailand for over 30 years. About 270 tigers reside at the zoo and the majority of them have been retired of old age and don’t take part in any exhibition or activities in the zoo. With the severe drop in tourism due to the pandemic, the zoo was forced to close its doors at the end of last month.

So far, no buyers have contacted the zoo, which may be just as well, as the sale of elephants is heavily regulated.

Elephants are a protected and endangered species. Thai law forbids the sale of elephants with only a few exceptions, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).

Before you start cashing in your retirement savings to get yourself an enormous new pet, know that elephants may only be sold to another zoo, or for research, study, or breeding.

Any sale in violation of these restrictions would prompt the DNP to force the zoo to surrender the elephants to their care.

COVID-19 has devastated elephant activities in Thailand, from shows and rides that are often maligned to sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers.

Tourism funds the high cost of feeding and caring for the giant creatures, and without international travelers, many elephant owners and trainers have abandoned them, attempted to put the elephants up for sale, or made the long trek to their homelands.

(SD-Agencies)