Chiang Mai’s beloved flock of white geese, which briefly turned a stretch of the old city moat near Chiang Mai Gate into an unlikely tourist attraction, has been relocated to a farm in Mae On district while their old home is dismantled.
The ten geese arrived at the moat some time ago, courtesy of Chiang Mai Municipality, and quickly built a following. Visitors stopped by to photograph and watch them, and municipal staff eventually built the birds a proper house with a fence around their patch of moat-side turf, cementing their status as a minor city landmark. Not long after, the geese were quietly moved elsewhere and, more recently, their old house was torn down, leaving only a sign to mark the spot.
Deputy Mayor Wisaka Panyachuay confirmed to reporters that all ten geese, along with the goslings hatched during their time at the moat, are now being cared for at a farm in Mae On and remain in good health. The removal of their moat-side house is tied to Chiang Mai’s ongoing UNESCO World Heritage evaluation: the moat is among the historic sites under assessment, and officials want it free of structures and obstructions during the process.
Whether the geese will return to their old spot has yet to be decided. Panyachuay said the decision will depend on public feedback and further discussion among relevant parties, and asked fans of the flock to wait for a firm conclusion.
