Top 15 zoos & aquariums in Asia

Singapore Zoo is part of Mandai Wildlife Reserve, overseen by Mandai Wildlife Group. It’s one of four wildlife parks in the reserve, all of which are WAZA members. The 28-hectare destination is located by the Upper Seletar Reservoir in Singapore’s forested central catchment area. Opened in 1973, Singapore Zoo is home to more than 4,200 animals of more than 300 species, residing in habitats replicating natural environments across the globe.

Mandai Wildlife Group CEO Mike Barclay told blooloop: “We are a conservation-minded organisation, constantly thinking about how to lighten our impact on the planet.”

The group supports more than 40 conservation projects across Southeast Asia. The wildlife parks managed by Mandai are all members of WAZA and the Southeast Asian Zoo and Aquarium Association (SEAZA).

This 380-hectare Vinpearl Safari destination is divided into two areas – an open zoo and a safari park. It is home to more than 4,500 animals of 200 species, including rare and endangered animals such as Bengal tigers, African lions and white rhinos. Vietnam’s largest wildlife conservation park is operated by Vingroup, which also has three VinWonders theme parks. VinWonders Phu Quoc is the largest theme park in Southeast Asia. 

Opened in 2015, Vinpearl Safari was the first zoo in Vietnam to receive the welfare certification for ensuring animal welfare conditions by SEAZA. It was also the first Vietnamese zoo to become a member of WAZA.

River Wonders, one of four wildlife parks at Singapore’s Mandai Wildlife Reserve, opened in 2012. The park houses 11,000 animals, from Mekong giant catfish to red pandas. Mandai Wildlife Group CEO Mike Barclay told blooloop: “River Wonders is a freshwater aquarium, but it also tells the story of the animals that live on the banks of river systems, so there are land-based animals as well as marine animals.” 

Mandai Wildlife Group provides funding and support to the Mandai Nature non-profit for conservation work across Southeast Asia. Barclay said: “Our thinking is that we should restrict our work to Southeast Asia because there’s so much to be done here. A number of the world’s biodiversity hotspots are in our neighbourhood, and a lack of attention investment [is] going into this space.

“We’ve got really good connections across all the countries of Southeast Asia. So, we can actually make a very significant difference here.”

River Wonders is a member of WAZA and SEAZA.

Night Safari, another park in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve in Singapore, debuted in 1994. It is, as the name suggests, a unique night zoo that only opens in the evening. At this 86-acre park, visitors can see nocturnal animals like wallabies, sugar gliders, and the Tasmanian devil.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase our nocturnal species. There are so many nocturnal species in the tropics, so it’s always a bit of a ‘wow’,” Mike Barclay, CEO of Mandai Wildlife Group, told blooloop. 

Mandai Wildlife Group supports conservation projects across Southeast Asia. “We are in a better place than we were 10 years ago in terms of awareness. We’re in a worse place than we were years ago in terms of species survival and the negative impacts of changing climate,” he said.

Night Safari is a member of WAZA and SEAZA.

Japan’s Zoorasia, also known as Yokohama Zoological Gardens, opened in 1999. The park is divided into eight zones, from an African savannah to an Asian tropical forest. The zoo is home to rare and endangered animals such as okapi and the proboscis monkey. Zoorasia is the largest zoological garden in Yokohama. It was created as a space where nature and animals live in harmony within the city.

In 2021, Zoorasia welcomed the birth of a proboscis monkey, which is classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Zoorasia is involved in research to better understand the species. WAZA said the conservation breeding and research of proboscis monkeys at zoos helps us to better understand their precise biology and could contribute to in situ and ex situ conservation.

Zoorasia is a member of WAZA and SEAZA.

Opened in 1977, Ocean Park is an animal theme park in Hong Kong. The park covers more than 915,000 square metres and includes animal attractions, thrill rides and shows. The park, which is set to welcome two new giant pandas, is home to more than 70 species. Operator Ocean Park Corporation is currently repositioning Ocean Park as a resort destination with a focus on conservation and education. This is part of an HK$6.8bn ($876m) overhaul.

Ocean Park’s conservation foundation is currently working with scientists to protect local horseshoe crabs using drones and artificial intelligence (AI). “Over the years, Ocean Park has been using its technology to enrich wildlife preservation for endangered species,” said Howard Chuk Hau-chung, director of the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation.

Since 2005, the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation has allocated more than HK$100 million to fund 560 research projects on cetaceans, giant pandas and many other species.

Ocean Park is a member of WAZA, and was the first-ever facility outside of North America to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

This Hong Kong-based zoo was opened to the public in 1871 as a botanical garden, with animals joining from 1876. It became the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens in 1975, and has been under the management of Hong Kong’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department since 2000. Around half of the 5.6-hectare site is dedicated to zoological exhibits. It houses approximately 167 birds, 89 mammals and 21 reptiles in 40 enclosures.

Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens currently carries out conservation work through educational initiatives. It is a member of WAZA and SEAZA.

Bannerghatta Biological Park in India is home to a 12-hectare zoo with nearly 2,000 animals from 94 species, including mammals, reptiles and birds. Guests can see Eld’s deer, the king cobra, panthers, and the Himalayan black bear. Currently, the zoo is expanding to add another 28 hectares and eight new habitats. Additionally, the park features a butterfly park, as well as lion and tiger safaris. In 2024, a new leopard safari debuted at Bannerghatta Biological Park.

Bannerughatta Biological Park is situated at the northern side of an elephant sanctuary. The park’s conservation efforts are mostly ex situ, with endangered species rescued and rehabilitated, and a breeding programme in place. Bannerghatta Biological Park is a member of WAZA.

S.E.A. Aquarium at Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa, an integrated resort on Sentosa island, is one of the world’s largest aquariums. It’s home to more than 100,000 marine animals representing 1,000 species across more than 40 diverse habitats.

Opened in 2012, S.E.A. Aquarium is set to become the Singapore Oceanarium as part of a $5 billion expansion of Resorts World Sentosa. The new aquarium will be three times the size of the current facility, with state-of-the-art technology, immersive exhibits and multi-sensory zones.

When it comes to conservation, S.E.A. Aquarium’s work has included jellyfish breeding and sea turtle rehabilitation. The aquarium attempts to raise awareness of marine conservation, and collaborates with local and regional parters in marine conservation projects. It is accredited by AZA and WAZA.

Opened in 1978, Khao Kheow Open Zoo is located in Si Racha, Thailand. It covers an area of 2,000 acres, with 400 acres used for animal habitats, 200 acres of public spaces, and the remaining 1,400 acres dedicated to research. Highlights in the zoo include an Eld’s deer park and an aviary. In the research area, which is closed to visitors, wild animals live in their natural environment, including the near threatened painted stork.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo is operated by Thailand’s Zoological Park Organization. It is home to around 3,000 animals. According to its website, the zoo carries out ex situ conservation work, and is working to become a research-focused organisation.

Thailand’s Zoological Park Organization is a member of SEAZA, and the zoo is a WAZA member.

Taipei Zoo in Taiwan opened in 1914. It is located in the Muzha district in the  southern part of Taipei. Taipei Zoo features a Taiwanese animal habitat, a koala house, a giant panda house and an Asian tropical rainforest zone. Also on offer are a children’s zoo, an aviary and an insectarium. The zoo covers a combined area of 165 hectares, 90 of which are open to the public.

More than four million people visit Taipei Zoo every year. The zoo says is has a responsibility to educate the public and raise awareness of conservation issues. Its rescue centre cares for nearly 900 animals, many of which are amphibians and reptiles.

Taipei Zoo is a member of WAZA and SEAZA.

Taman Safari Indonesia has three wildlife parks in the country. The first opened in 1986 in Bogor, West Java, and was followed in 1997 by the second, found in Prigen, East Java. This is the largest site in the group. The third debuted in 2007 in Bali. The Bogor park is designed to replicate the natural habitats of various species, including lions, giraffes, elephants, exotic birds and Komodo dragons.

Taman Safari aims to be a leading conservation-focused group. Its work includes establishing an elephant conservation centre, setting up the world’s first elephant hospital, and starting a Sumatran tiger rescue and breeding centre. Taman Safari Indonesia is a member of SEAZA, and the Bogor park is a WAZA member.

Zoo Negara is located in Selangor, Malaysia and is managed by the Malaysian Zoological Society. It opened in 1963 and is home to 3,500 animals from 205 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. The 110-acre site is situated just 5 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur. Over the years, Zoo Negara has transformed into an open zoo, with 90 percent of its animals living in spacious exhibits.

Zoo Negara says on its website that the conservation of Malaysian wildlife is one of its key missions, with a focus on lesser-known vulnerable and endangered animals like the false gharial and milky stork. The zoo has managed to breed both species, and worked with the local wildlife department to release them back into the wild. It is also involved in research projects, and attempts to raise awareness of conservation issues through education.

Zoo Negara is a member of SEAZA and WAZA.

Bird Paradise is the fourth park to open in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, overseen by Mandai Wildlife Group. This new addition to the reserve, launched in 2023, is Asia’s largest bird park. It’s home to 3,500 birds from more than 400 species and has eight walkthrough aviaries representing different biomes from across the world. Guests can see the Papuan hornbill, endangered black-faced spoonbill, and critically endangered Baer’s pochard.

“Here at our parks, we do a lot of work on the rescue of native species, on research and on coordinated breeding programs concerning threatened species,” Mandai Wildlife Group CEO Mike Barclay told blooloop. “Then in situ, in the field, we support over 40 projects across Southeast Asia. We generally come in from an endangered species angle. But, inevitably, that involves looking at protecting the habitat and engaging local communities, too.”

Bird Paradise is a member of WAZA and SEAZA.

Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur, India was the first zoo to be established in the country in 1855, according to its website. Located south of Chennai, it is one of the largest zoos in Southeast Asia, with 602 hectares of land and more than 2,300 animals from 172 species. Annually, the zoo enjoys around 2 million visits. Highlights include lion and deer safari areas, a butterfly park, an aquarium, and aviaries. 

Arignar Anna Zoological Park, a member of WAZA, has a rescue and rehabilitation centre. The zoo serves as an ex-situ conservation site, and is involved in several breeding programmes, including the lion-tailed macaque.