[4] The zoo is famous for offering visitors the chance to see the animals up close, whether by renting a golf cart, driving a car or walking through the exhibits.

[5] In 2021, the zoo came under scrutiny for its elephant swimming exhibit when an Australian photojournalist, Adam Oswell, won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award for Photojournalism with a photo taken at Khao Kheow.

Around the world, animals are held captive and deprived of their natural way of life to serve as entertainment in zoos and touring shows.

"[7] Dr. Visit Arsaithamkul, a veterinarian who worked at Khao Kheow at the time, told CNN that the elephants are trained through "reward-based positive reinforcement" and that "they voluntarily get into the pool.”[8] In 2024, a baby pygmy hippopotamus named Moo Deng was born at the zoo.

[12] The pygmy hippopotamus is an endangered species from West Africa, with fewer than 2,000-2,500 adults left, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.