{{Short description|Zoo in Thailand}} {{Infobox zoo |zoo_name = Chiang Mai Zoo & Aquarium |logo = |logo_caption = |image = Chiangmai-zoo01.jpg |image_caption = Chiang Mai Zoo entrance |location = [[Mueang Chiang Mai district|Mueang Chiang Mai]], [[Chiang Mai Province|Chiang Mai]], Thailand |date_opened = {{ubil|1957 (private zoo)<ref name="zoo_history_thai"/>|1977 (government zoo)<ref name="zoo_history_thai"/>}} |date_closed = |coordinates = {{Coord|18.809|98.947|format=dms|type:landmark|display=it}} |area = {{Convert|200|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="zoo_organization"/> |num_species = 400+ |num_animals = |owner=Zoological Park Organization |largest_tank_vol = |total_tank_vol = |annual_visitors = |members = |exhibits = |website = {{URL|http://www.chiangmaizoo.com}} }} '''Chiang Mai Zoo and Aquarium''' ({{langx|th|สวนสัตว์เชียงใหม่}}) is a {{convert|200|acre|adj=on}} [[zoo]] on Huay Kaew Road in [[Chiang Mai Province]], [[Thailand]], just west of [[Chiang Mai University]]. It is the first commercial zoo in [[northern Thailand]], established on 16 June 1977.
==History== 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 administration set aside {{Convert|24|acre}} at the base of [[Doi Suthep]], the mountain immediately adjacent to Chiang Mai, and the facility was opened to the public in 1957.<ref name="zoo_history_thai"/><ref name="zoothailand"/>
When Young died in 1974, the property was taken over by Chiang Mai Province. The zoo was expanded to its current {{Convert|200|acre}} footprint, transferred to the Zoological Park Organization under [[Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Thailand)|Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment]], and opened as the official zoo of [[Chiang Mai province]] in 1977.<ref name="zoo_history_thai"/><ref name="zoo_organization"/>
==Exhibits== Chiang Mai Zoo is privately operated and includes a large variety of animals. In addition, it provides two large [[Public aquarium|aquariums]]. On 28 October 2008, an aquatic tunnel with a length of {{Convert|133|m}}—the world's longest tunnel aquarium— was opened to the public.
==Animals== [[File:Panda enclosure at Chiang Mai zoo-KayEss-2.jpeg|thumb|left|Panda enclosure at Chiang Mai Zoo]] [[File:Panda CMZ 1.jpg|thumb|Giant pandas at the zoo]] [[File:เชียงใหม่ ซู อควาเรียม สวนสัคว์เชียงใหม่ Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium (76).jpg|thumb|The aquarium at Chiang Mai Zoo]] Overall, 400 animal species are represented in the zoo, including [[Humboldt penguin]]s, [[Cape fur seal]]s, [[koala]]s, [[Indian rhinoceros]]es, [[hippopotamus]]es, [[greater flamingo]]s, [[gaur]], [[red-shanked douc]]s, [[Bornean orangutan]]s, [[African spurred tortoise]]s, [[Asiatic black bear]]s, [[Malayan sun bear]]s, [[giant anteater]]s, [[Indochinese tiger]]s, [[Barbary sheep]], [[Malayan tapir]]s, and many reptile species.<ref name="zoo_attractions"/> The zoo is also home to two [[Asian elephant]]s<ref name="elephant.se"/> and was previously home to three [[giant panda]]s.<ref name="giantpandazoo"/>
Giant pandas [[Lin Hui]] and [[Chuang Chuang]] arrived at the zoo on 12 October 2003, and were on a ten-year loan from China as part of its so-called [[panda diplomacy]]. Their daughter, [[Lin Bing]], was born at the zoo on 27 May 2009, and was returned to China when she was two years old. Lin Bing is one of just a few giant pandas born in captivity outside China.<ref name="giantpandazoo"/><ref name="chinadaily"> {{Cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-08/10/content_8551808.htm|title=New-born giant panda in Thailand named 'Lin Bing'|work=China Daily|publisher=chinadaily.com.cn|date=10 August 2009|accessdate=25 September 2011}}</ref> Chuang Chuang died on 16 September 2019 from heart failure<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1767659/zoo-solves-mystery-of-chuang-chuang-death|title = Zoo solves mystery of Chuang Chuang death|newspaper = Bangkok Post}}</ref> and Lin Hui died on 19 April 2023 while under medical care.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2552711/giant-panda-lin-hui-had-nosebleed-before-her-death|title= Giant panda Lin Hui had nosebleed before her death|newspaper= Bangkok Post}}</ref>
The aquarium houses many species of fish and marine life, including crustaceans and [[Asian arowana]]. It also houses carnivorous fish, such as sharks.
==Transportation== The {{Convert|2|km|adj=on}} Chiang Mai Zoo Monorail was opened in 2005.<ref name="monorail" /> It ceased operations in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/444643/chiang-mai-zoo-halts-monorail-service|title = Chiang Mai Zoo halts monorail service|newspaper = Bangkok Post}}</ref> The zoo also has trams that take visitors around the zoo for a charge.<ref name="zoo_attractions"/><ref name="zoo_fees"/>
==See also== *[[Chiang Mai Night Safari]]
== References == {{Reflist |refs=
<ref name="zoo_fees"> {{cite web |url = http://chiangmaizoo.peam.biz/times&fees/times_fees_index.html |title=Times & Fees |work=chiangmaizoo.peam.biz |publisher=Chiang Mai Zoo |accessdate=25 September 2011 }}</ref>
<ref name="zoo_attractions"> {{cite web |url = http://chiangmaizoo.peam.biz/attractions/attractions_index.html |title=Attractions |work=chiangmaizoo.peam.biz |publisher=Chiang Mai Zoo |accessdate=25 September 2011 }}</ref>
<ref name="zoothailand"> {{cite web |url = http://www.zoothailand.org/index.php/en/the-zoological-park-organization/history |title=History |work=zoothailand.org |publisher=The Zoological Park Organization |accessdate=27 September 2011 }}</ref>
<ref name="zoo_organization"> {{cite web |url = http://chiangmaizoo.peam.biz/organization/organization_index.html |title=History |work=chiangmaizoo.peam.biz |publisher=Chiang Mai Zoo |accessdate=25 September 2011 }}</ref>
<ref name="zoo_history_thai"> {{cite web |url = http://chiangmaizoo.peam.biz/organization/organization_index.html |title=History of Chiang Mai Zoo (in Thai) |work=chiangmaizoo.peam.biz |publisher=Chiang Mai Zoo |accessdate=25 September 2011 }}</ref>
<ref name="elephant.se">{{cite web |url=http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1270&show=2 |title=Present living elephants at Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand |work=elephant.se |publisher=[[Dan_Koehl#Elephant_Encyclopedia|Koehl D, Elephant Encyclopedia]] |accessdate=26 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401181403/http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1270&show=2 |archive-date=1 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="giantpandazoo">{{cite web |url=http://www.giantpandazoo.com/panda/panda-zoos/chiang-mai-zoo |title=Giant Pandas in Chiang Mai |work=giantpandazoo.com |publisher=GiantPandaZoo.com |accessdate=26 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223075740/http://www.giantpandazoo.com/panda/panda-zoos/chiang-mai-zoo |archive-date=23 December 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="monorail">{{cite web |url = http://www.monorails.org/tmspages/Bangkok2.html |title = Chiang Mai Zoo - Bangkok, Thailand |website = monorails.org |publisher = The Monorail Society |accessdate = 25 September 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111215154434/http://monorails.org/tMspages/Bangkok2.html |archive-date = 15 December 2011 |url-status = dead }}</ref> }}
{{Commons category}} {{-}} {{Zoos of Thailand}} {{Famous giant pandas}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Monorails in Thailand]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Chiang Mai|Zoo]] [[Category:Zoos in Thailand]] [[Category:Organizations established in 1977]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Chiang Mai]] [[Category:1977 establishments in Thailand]] [[Category:1957 establishments in Thailand]] [[Category:Zoos established in 1957]]