Chiang Mai Zoo
Last updated 2008-02-07
Chiang Mai Zoo is within easy reach, situated at the foot of Doi Suthep mountain, next to the city's arboretum. At the time of writing, admission for adults is 100 Baht but this does not include entry to the very popular Panda enclosure, which will cost a further 100 Baht for adults. 2008 sees the completion of the monorail system which is also extra charge.
The zoo is home to an interesting range of species including the famous Panda Bears, Chuang Chuang and Lin-Hui. See a video of the male Panda at the Orient Expat youtube channel. You can get up close and personal with various tropical birds in the walk through aviary, watch animal shows, browse the reptile enclosures, lots of primates and many more.
The grounds are quite large and on an incline as this is the start of the mountain, so the elderly or very young may struggle and would certainly benefit from the park transport. The hot season can be very debilitating and you should drink plenty of water as you walk around the large grounds. There are strategically placed restaurants and drinks stalls.
We don't believe in the captivity of animals for anything other than species preservation purposes or similar but it's difficult to argue that it's a fascinating way to spend a few hours if you're in Chiang Mai and the kids will love it. You'll need two or three hours to see everything, more if you have children or are a little slow on your feet.
See also: Doi Pui Village | Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
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