Chiang Mai’s ambitious initiative to purify its contaminated moat using a group of geese is causing controversy. Intended as an eco-friendly approach to tackle green algae and water contamination, the project has instead become a chaotic spectacle involving selfie-taking tourists, birds that escaped, and no noticeable improvements.
Starting from August 21, Chiang Mai Municipality has been testing 10 geese in the southern moat close to Chiang Mai Gate. The birds were set loose for a one-week task to address water pollution by consuming aquatic plants like water hyacinth and plankton.
The geese quickly turned into social media sensations, attracting crowds of spectators taking photos and videos by the moat’s edges. During the weekend, hundreds assembled to watch the birds swimming in their temporary habitat.
However, there’s a problem: the geese might not be consuming the appropriate materials. Although water hyacinth has largely disappeared, green algae persists in over 1.5 kilometers of the southern moat, especially between Ku Heung and Ka Tam Junctions. Specialists indicate that algae is not on the geese’s menu and is exacerbated by wastewater from detergents and dishwashing soaps.
Skeptics contend that introducing geese is more of a publicity stunt than an effective remedy.
“The actual solution lies in improved wastewater management from markets and homes, rather than depending on geese,” stated Teerawuth Kaewfong, a People’s Party politician who competed against Mayor Assanee Buraupakorn.
There are additional worries that the geese’s waste might degrade water quality further, and the birds could create hazards after they briefly disrupted traffic by straying away in the evening. The mayor vowed to provide a bigger, more secure pen and noted that the geese would soon adjust to their environment.
Municipal authorities have not revealed the origin of the birds, but they affirmed that if the experiment proves successful, additional geese might be introduced to the moat in the near future, according to Pattaya Mail, Bangkok Post, and Channel 7 News.
Although their effectiveness in cleaning is still unclear, the geese have undoubtedly emerged as Chiang Mai’s most adorable new social media figures.
