Tuesday 4th October, 2011

I don't think It's a major tourist attraction and I will soon find out why, but the sign to Happy Land had been eyeing us for a while and Daniel kept telling me to go see what it was. I decided to do some research online about it because I couldn't find any information about it. All I found was a blog piece from a foreign English teacher from 2008 stating that it wasn't very good. The Hotel couldn't even provide any information. The Hotel manager had never been to it, so he couldn't say much about it

I caught a cab there and it was even further then the aquarium. I didn't see many cabs coming out this way, so while sitting in the backseat, I was already planning my walk back to the hotel. After a 20 minute ride, I arrived at the Happy Land entrance. I went over to the ticket booth, paid my entry fee and walked in.

Entrance to Happy Land

View from the village

Sign board

The moment I walked in, the amusement park resembled a really crappy attempt at Disneyland. There were a few souvenir stands, some interactive prize winning games, a theatre stage, where a Russian dance group were rehearsing in front of all the customers and some children's rides, which I wouldn't trust with my life. For some reason, there was also a huge Christmas Tree sitting in the middle of the walkway. Very strange.

I walked around a fair bit, trying to figure out what this place was trying to be. The Amusement park sat on the base of a hill and had more entertainment as you climbed up. So I continued on and came to some sort of TiKi land. But then it turned into Korea Land, where children were able to dress up in the Traditional Korean Dress, just like I did with Tiger when we were in Korea. Ahhhh the memories LOL

Further up, there was another ticket booth, where you had to buy the ticket if you wanted to enter the zoo. Hmmm I thought. This I had to see. I knew it wouldn't be pretty. Once inside, you are welcomed by a pond that hasn't been cleaned for what seems like years. Inside the pond, they had a snapping turtles and several little red slider turtles, just like our shelled children, in various sizes. I passed the pond and walked up the rocky path and saw several cages all lined up. They had all sorts of birds with all different shades of colour. The cages, I found to be too small, as it didn't allow the birds any wing span space for them to stretch. This led onto some other glass cages that housed geese, turkeys, ducks and other kinds of avians. I was sadden to see the emus in a tiny enclosure with what looked like a run down play house for their shelter.

The bird cages

I then moved onto the camels and shetland ponies. The camels seemed to be in a better housing situation. They could put their heads over the fence, so I was able to give them a pat. The ponies were located next to them, but somehow the concrete flooring and rusted fencing didn't seem very appropriate. The ponies too came over the fence for a pat, although I think they would've preferred food as I didn't see any in their quarter.

Really friendly camel

The sweetest little Shetlands I've ever met

After passing the farm section, I was overwhelmed to see my beloved wolves. There were 5 or 6 wolves in the concrete den. Again, the walls were of concrete and the flooring was of concrete also, with very little dirt for coverage. Standing at the top, overlooking the den, I could see that there was one wolf tied down by a chain to its neck and another was pacing up and down along the wall. They too had run down kennels as shelter, and no enrichment what so ever for these poor creatures. Next to the wolves, there was a heavily cages compound, which hardly let you look inside. Unfortunately, this is the home to two grizzly bears. Sunlight could hardly get through and there is absolutely no comfort for them. I can't describe how I'm feeling right now. I just want to free them all and cry.

One of the lion enclosures

The Wolves pen

The Grizzly Bear enclosure

There's the little bear..

They also had a mountain dog caged. I wouldn't classify a dog as a zoo animal. This poor pup looked so depressed. He just lay down near the fence, as though waiting for that door to open to freedom. I continued to walk on further and came across the monkeys. They also had an owl, raccoons, beavers and artic foxes. All these animals were housed in small, horrible, concrete cages, that were rusted and their shelter huts were run down. They had no food or water, no comfortable flooring or any means of life enrichment in their cells. The arctic foxes were the worst of them all. Their white glossy coats were non existent. They were grey, dull and dead. They looked shrivelled. Their nails have grown so long, they have knock knees and could hardly walk for very long. It saddens me to think that many of these animals are better off dead, because I don't think many of the national people will fight for their rights. It's a vast generation of people that have much to learn.

Arctic Fox is unrecognisable

I then heard there was going to be a show on, so I decided to go over and see it, although I knew it would'nt be pleasant. They had two lionesses, a tiny sunbear, a monkey, a goat , a dog and a pony. The crowd sat on wood logs and watched the animals enter the circular cage. The show went on for about 40 minutes and in this time, the following occurred:
1. The trainer brought out the goat and chained the monkey to the goats collar. He made the monkey ride the goat and then together, they had to climb a ladder ad balanced on a thin piece of wooden plank. The goat then had to balance on a small wood block, that sat on the thin wooden plank and the monkey moved up the the goats head and procedded to do a handstand on the goats head!!!

Monkey and goat balancing on narrow wooden plank

2. One of the lionesses was made to jump several jumps made of metal bars, in various heights, which were set up around the cage enclosure.
3. The tiny sunbear was made to balance on the metal bars, by standing on them, doing handstands and rolling in between the bars. He was then made to jump several obstacle courses.
4. The dog was made to jump obstacle courses and play a number game, where he choose the correct number. Like the games you see at dolphin and sealion shows at the aquariums.
5. The second lioness and pony were brought in together into the cage. The pony had a saddle board mounted on it's back and with this, the lioness was made to jump ontop of the pony and balance on her, as she cantered with the lioness riding her around the cage.

Two lioness' in their tiny cages

Lioness riding the pony

The show was soon over and everyone laughed and cheered. It was disgusting. I got up and went back to the arctic foxes. These poor little souls. I didn't want to leave them. I wanted to get in there and cut those nails, give them a bath and a good all over brush. Make them feel like they should. I really wish things get better for them.

I had never seen anything like this in my life. I wish I never had, but I'm also glad I did. Because I have witnessed these things, I have written into various animal rights groups in Asia to try and make a positive change for these animals. I know I am only one person, but if I can make people aware of it and fight for them, then that's better then sitting back, knowing these poor animals are suffering. So far I have had a few replies back, but it sounds like alot of organisations may not have the support or finances to assist any further. I will coninue this plight and wish for a positive outcome.

Happy Land??? More like Crappy Land... remains copyright of the author Two Otters, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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