The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment may transform Chiang Mai Night Safari into a public company under the supervision of the Zoological Park Organisation (ZOO) in order to tone down opposition to various policies.
"It's no mean feat to integrate the Chiang Mai Night Safari into the ZOO because of the different working culture and big salary gap, so we need to find a way to make the safari staff comfortable in their new 'home'," said Gen Surasak Kanjanarat, the environment minister.
The ZOO is a state agency, while the organisation that runs the night safari in Chiang Mai is a public agency that pays its staff roughly double what the state would give them by way of remuneration.
Gen Surasak said the ministry is seeking ways to turn the safari -- the country's first nocturnal zoo -- into a public company. He did not provide a timeline or more details.
The safari has until now been operated by the Pinkanakorn Development Agency Public Organisation (PDA), a special body created by the former Pheu Thai-led government in 2013 to operate it as well as other venues .
However, a cabinet decision in June 2017 ordered the PDA to be dissolved to mitigate financial losses, with all of its projects, assets and liabilities to be transferred to other state agencies.
The cabinet made the decision based on the government's performance appraisal of 38 public organisations.
However the order has ruffled feathers among PDA staff and hundreds of local villagers who work at the Chiang Mai Night Safari.
Those antagonised by the move include a local animal feed network that has supplied grass to the zoo for over 12 years.
Phin Chaikantha, chief of the Wisahakit Chumchon (small-scale community enterprise) in Lamphun province, said villagers are now concerned the ZOO will damage the interests of local businesses.
"What will happen if the new operator chooses commercial suppliers instead and sub-contracts various operations? Local communities can't compete with big companies on price," Mr Phin said.
He has urged the government to hold a public hearing on the matter.
"The aim of Wisahakit Chumchon is to help community members become financially independent by running small-scale businesses. But if they can't even sell grass, how can they earn a decent income?" he asked.
Located on the outskirts of Doi Suthep-Doi Pui National Park, Chiang Mai Night Safari covers 725 rai of land in Hang Dong and Muang districts. It was initiated by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and modelled on his experience of Singapore's Night Safari.