Lions and tigers -- oh, my! -- on a menu

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- VIP guests at the grand opening for the night safari zoo in northern Thailand will not only get to see exotic animals -- they'll also get to taste them.
The Chiang Mai Night Safari Zoo will open officially on New Year's Day, with the "Exotic Buffet" for the event including tiger, lion, elephant and giraffe, said project director Plodprasop Suraswadi.
"VIP guests who pay 4,500 baht ($110) for the buffet will have the privilege of tasting an exotic menu, ranging from dog meat from [Thailand's Sakhon Nakhon province] to lion meat from Africa," he said.
Critics have lambasted the idea, saying it will encourage wildlife trafficking in a country and region notorious for smuggling endangered species for unproven traditional medicinal benefits.