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After reading mixed reports about the Chiang Mai zoo, we were unsure what to expect – but the entrance fee of 100 baht ($3.30) drew us in. We were so glad that we went. We got to feed hippos, elephants, giraffes and even jaguars and cheetahs (a hunk of meat on the end of a stick). And (for another 100 baht) we got to see pandas for the first time.
The zoo was largely empty – as it is the off-season for travel here now – and most of the tourist who were there tore around the park onboard a bus, never getting close to any of the animals. We walked everywhere – it was very hot and quite often steep – but well worth the effort.
Some of the enclosures weren’t great – lots of concrete, little stimulation for the animals – but the zoo seems to be making an effort to bring the standard of care up to better levels. Certainly not the worst zoo i have seen in tho regard, but still with a long way to go.
