Chiang Mai Zoo

Chiang Mai Zoo & Aquarium

Giant pandas at the zoo
Date opened	1957 (as a private zoo) 16 June 1977 (as official zoo of Chang Mai)
Location	Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand
Coordinates	18°48′32″N 98°56′49″E / 18.809°N 98.947°E / 18.809; 98.947Coordinates: 18°48′32″N 98°56′49″E / 18.809°N 98.947°E / 18.809; 98.947
Land area	200 acres (81 ha)
Number of species	400+
Website	www.chiangmaizoo.com

Chiang Mai Zoo and Aquarium is a 200-acre (81 ha) zoo on Huay Kaew Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand, just west of Chiang Mai University. It is the first commercial zoo in northern Thailand, established on 16 June 1977.

In 1950 the US government sent military advisers to train tribal police along the border of Thailand. Among them was Harold Mason Young, son of American missionaries, who had been born in Burma. Young started helping injured animals, and his collection started getting visitors. The Chiang Mai provincial government set aside 24 acres (9.7 ha) at the base of Suthep Mountain, and the facility was opened to the public in 1957.

When Young died in 1974, the property was taken over by Chiang Mai Province. The zoo was expanded to its current 200 acres (81 ha) footprint, transferred to the Zoological Park Organization under the patronage of the King of Thailand, and opened as the official zoo of Chang Mai Province in 1977.

Chiang Mai Zoo is privately operated and includes a large variety of animals. In addition, it provides two large aquariums. On 28 October 2008, an aquatic tunnel with a length of 133 metres (436 ft)—the world's longest tunnel aquarium— was opened to the public. It also has a marine aquarium, which is the largest in Asia.

Overall, 400 animal species are represented in the zoo including koalas, Humboldt penguins, Cape fur seals, the only rhino in Thailand, hippos, flamingos, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, camels, lions, tigers, Barbary sheep, Malayan tapir, and many types of reptiles. The zoo is also home to two elephants and three giant pandas.