On 16 January 2024, H.E. Mrs. Sirilak Niyom, Ambassador of Thailand to Denmark, and Mr. Theerakun Niyom, her spouse, hosted a Thai dinner for executives and staffs of Copenhagen Zoo at the Thai Residence. The attendees included Mr. Jørgen A. Horwitz, Chairman of Copenhagen Zoo, Ms. Pernille W. Mehl, CEO, and Mr. Rasmus Mehl, her spouse, Mr. Mads Frost Bertelsen, Zoological Director, and Ms. Trine Trydeman, his spouse, Mr. Stamos Tahas, Zoo Veterinarian, Mr. Flemming Nielsen, Curator of Animal Collection, Husbandry and Transfers, as well as a team of elephant care staff. The Embassy’s diplomats and staff also attended the dinner.

On such occasion, the Ambassador expressed her thanks to Copenhagen Zoo for their kind cooperation in co-hosting a reception to celebrate the 60^th Anniversary of the Arrival of Thai Elephants in Denmark at the Copenhagen Zoo on 6 September 2022 and for taking good care of Thai elephants for more than 60 years. It is noted with satisfaction that the first Thai mail elephant at Copenhagen Zoo had become the great great grandfather and progenitor of many Thai elephants in Europe. It is also a symbol of the close ties between Thailand and Denmark, especially between the royal families of the two countries.

The Thai elephants at Copenhagen Zoo were conferred as gifts from His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great of Thailand (King Rama IX) and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. The first 2 elephants were conferred to His Majesty King Frederik IX and Her Majesty Queen Ingrid on the occasion of Their Majesties’ state visit to Thailand in January 1962. Another 2 elephants were later conferred to Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and His Royal Highness Prince Henrik, Prince Consort, during Their Majesties’ state visit to Thailand in February 2001. At present, the Copenhagen Zoo houses 3 Thai elephants, namely “Kungrao”, “Surin”, and “Mun”.