Young koala at Thailand’s Chiang Mai Zoo represents hope for the country’s political reconciliation
BANGKOK — A baby koala and a young girl are helping move Thailand toward reconciliation after the country’s recent bitter political violence.
Four-year-old Lapassarada Mung-opas submitted the winning entry in a contest to name the baby koala at the Chiang Mai Zoo in northern Thailand. Her suggestion, Prong-dong — “Reconciliation” — was picked over 496 other names, including “Ice,” “Sugar” and “Lotus.”
“The situation now is so dire” that people with political differences “can’t look each other in the eye,” Nipon Wichairat, the zoo’s assistant director, said Wednesday.
“It’s a reminder for us to turn to each other,” he said, explaining the winning entry.
