Chiang Mai Zoo has built a special exhibit inside a cool, air-conditioned climate of 10°C for the comfort of a pair of giant pandas on loan from China for display in Thailand in 2004 started from a conversation in 2001 between Vice-prime Minister and Minister of Defence Chawalit Yongjaiyut with the President and Prime Minister of The People's Republic of China concerning putting on display the giant panda in Thailand. This zoo was selected by the Zoological Park Organization for the care and display of these pandas.
There are special liquid-covered mats you walked through to kill bacteria that may be harmful to the pandas. A moat separates the pandas from the audience. We were initially disappointed as the pandas were farther up and away in their habitat, hard to see even with the digital camera in maximum zoom. Then we were fortunate, a zoo worker started to feed the pandas. First one came down, then the other. The pandas strip the bamboo bark and then they played with each other. Another zoo worker displays a large sign in Thai and English to please be quiet. This is a major public draw for the zoo, go on a weekday if you can as the weekends are packed with crowds of people is what I heard. No flash photography.
General admission to the zoo is THB30 for adults, older child (over 135cm) THB10, younger child (under 135cm) THB5, vehicle THB30, motorcycle THB10.
A separate panda-exhibit-fee is required in addition to the regular zoo entrance fee - for adults: foreigners THB100, Thais THB50; foreigners child THB50, Thai child THB20.
Zoo hours are open 8am to 9pm.
Telephone +66.0.5322.1179, +66.0.5322.2479, +66.0.5322.6194, +66.0.5322.2283, +66.0.5321.0374; Fax. +66.0.5322.2283
e-mail admin@chiangmaizoo.com