Big panda bears aren’t cheap to raise. They need proper food and proper medical care. They also tend not to reproduce on their own and they need entire reproduction programs as well.
As a result, panda zoos aren’t as numerous as you’d think. Furthermore, only a few panda zoos around the world have successfully managed to create reliable breeding programs for this breed.
This is where you can find these cute bears.
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10. Chimelong Paradise, China
This is one of the most interesting places to see pandas in captivity. It can be one of the best locations to see young pandas, which isn’t as easy as you’d think.
Young pandas here are now 8 years old. A successful breeding attempt was noted in 2014.
This is also one of the few places in the entire world that have seen triple pandas born in captivity. This is a rare occurrence that is always studied by other zoos.
While there are many other zoos on this list that have successfully bred pandas, not many can truly match this performance of seeing 3 baby pandas being born at the same time.
At the moment, these pandas are still here. The zoo isn’t planning to send them over around the world, which is a tactic often applied by other zoos. It might be they are trying to see how the 3 pandas live together as adults.
We now know that pandas can easily live past the age of 30 when properly taken care of, at least in captivity.
9. Moscow Zoo, Russia
Moscow Zoo hasn’t yet been successful with panda reproduction. But they do have a male and a female panda on their premises since 2019.
This means there are chances to see some type of panda being born here in the following years. The cold Moscow climate can be one of the best for this purpose.
8. Atlanta Zoo, USA
It was a happy time in 2010 when Atlanta Zoo saw the birth of twin female pandas. This zoo has the financial backing and the proper expertise to try and motivate pandas to reproduce even further.
It can be one of the leading zoos in the US when it comes to sharing pandas with other zoos from across the world as well.
7. National Zoo Washington DC, USA
The National Zoo in the US’ capital city saw a few pandas being born over the past few years. It’s reassuring to see these bears grow and reproduce so far from native China.
But over the past few years, this zoo has also helped others with pandas. The popular Bao Bao was sent to China from this zoo.
Many predict the next North American panda born in captivity is also going to be right here in Washington DC.
6. Chapultepec Zoo, Mexico
If you’re visiting Mexico, you need to head over to Chapultepec Zoo while it’s not too late. This zoo has some of the oldest pandas in the world.
It is believed that the oldest panda here was born back in 1985. This makes this panda a true captivity veteran.
5. Zoo Aquarium Madrid, Spain
Image: Facebook / Zoo Aquarium de Madrid
Maybe it’s the Spanish sun or the Spanish siesta that pandas like about Madrid, but the Zoo Aquarium here is the first place in Europe to see panda bears reproducing in captivity.
It took 3 years for the local start panda couple to reproduce here. They arrived at Madrid Aquarium in 2007.
Later on, in 2010, they gave birth to the first panda bear with a European passport.
4. Berlin Zoological Garden, Germany
Berlin is not a place that you’d normally associate with panda bears. But it is a city which at least tries to reproduce this majestic species. It was the home of Bao Bao.
This oldest panda bear in history has died in captivity at Berlin Zoo. The bear lived for more than 30 years. Sadly, the zoo never managed to motivate Bao Bao to reproduce.
3. Adelaide Zoo, Australia
Wang Wang is the main star of the Adelaide Zoo. It is one of the first panda bears in Australia and one of the few in the Southern Hemisphere.
The pandas here are the only ones to be seen outside, Asia, Europe, and North America.
This makes them incredibly popular and kids from all over the city come to see them every weekend, especially during the summer.
2. Chiang Mai Zoo, Thailand
Chiang Mai seems to be growing as an international destination but it is also one of the places trying to learn more about how to raise pandas.
At the moment, this is hard for the local zoo. But they do get direct help from a few Chinese zoos in their quest
Chuang Chuang is 2 giant pandas at the Chiang Mai Zoo that were shipped from abroad. Sichuan Zoo in China sent the duo to Thailand. It’s not clear just how much time these bears are going to stay in Thailand.
But what we know is that you can see them in person if you’re visiting Chiang Mai.
1. Beijing Zoo, China
Beijing Zoo is one of the largest in the world. It also holds most panda bears and even some of the most popular pandas of the moment. G uGu is one of their famous male pandas.
This bear has been on the news a few times as it has attacked the visitors of the zoo several times. It’s no wonder given the Beijing Zoo is one of the largest in the world.
But this zoo in the capital of China also holds the record of seeing the first panda bear born incapacity.
With such popular panda bears, Beijing zoo is one of the most interesting locations across the world to see the cute bears in action.
You will also be able to discuss more with the caretakers here as they tend to be the most informed on the species even compared to those at other big panda zoos.
