Located between Bangkok and Pattaya in Thailand, Khao Kheow Open Zoo is the largest open-concept zoo in Asia. Here, you can get up close and personal with animals in a stunning setting surrounded by hills and lakes.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo boasts an impressive variety of over 300 species and more than 8,000 animals, most of which roam freely in naturalistic enclosures.
At the zoo, you can feed the animals, not just the usual goats but also elephants, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, monkeys, deer, and even rabbits.
The zoo also features numerous popular shows, such as the “Penguin Parade”, “Elephant Swimming”, “Bird Interaction”, “Tiger Challenge” and “Crane Dance”. Visitors can also enjoy the Journey to the Jungle animal show, held three times daily, and other close-up animal activities.
Unlike traditional zoos with cold electric fences or towering enclosures, Khao Kheow Open Zoo uses cleverly designed natural barriers. These barriers not only prevent animals from escaping but also allow visitors to observe them up close. For instance, the pygmy hippo exhibit uses two ingeniously crafted fences to transition seamlessly between animal and pedestrian paths. In the deer enclosure, the zoo takes advantage of the small hooves of ungulates by creating barriers that people can pass through, but animals cannot.
In July 2024, seven pygmy hippos were born at the zoo. One of them quickly became a favorite among visitors and netizens due to its adorable demeanor and playful interactions with its caretakers. The zoo later held a naming contest on Facebook, attracting over 20,000 votes. The name “Moo Deng” meaning “bouncy pork ball” in Thai—a nod to the hippo’s lively and energetic nature—won by a landslide.
