When it comes to their own animal residents, zoos must show high standards of welfare. Captive cetaceans are no longer drawing a crowd, and animal performances are being phased out.
Rainforest Wild Asia
All of the zoos and aquariums in this list are members of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the global alliance of regional associations, national federations and institutions.
See also: 90 years of WAZA and the future of progressive zoos & aquariums
WAZA represents more than 400 zoos, aquariums, and other animal venues. It supports species conservation, management, and animal husbandry in human care while encouraging the highest standards among member institutions.
Asia is the world's largest continent by land area and population, home to countries such as India, China, Japan and Thailand. For geographical diversity, this list contains zoos from across Asia, with visitor attendance and reviews, as well as conservation work, taken into account.
Keep reading for blooloop's top zoos and aquariums in Asia, in no particular order.
1.Singapore Zoo (Mandai Wildlife Reserve)
Singapore Zoo (Mandai Wildlife Reserve)Singapore Zoo is part of Mandai Wildlife Reserve, overseen by Mandai Wildlife Group. It’s one of five wildlife parks in the reserve.
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 from more than 300 species, residing in habitats that replicate 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. Wildlife parks managed by Mandai are members of WAZA and the Southeast Asian Zoo and Aquarium Association (SEAZA).
Rainforest Wild Asia, Mandai's newest park, opened to the public in March 2025.
The new park immerses guests in a 13-hectare Asian rainforest where they can choose their level of adventure and explore various paths, seeking out wildlife across 10 zones, from tree canopies to a subterranean labyrinth of cave chambers.
2.Vinpearl Safari and Conservation Park – Vietnam
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 welfare certification from SEAZA to ensure animal welfare. It was also the first Vietnamese zoo to become a member of WAZA.
3.River Wonders (Mandai Wildlife Reserve) – Singapore
River Wonders, one of five 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.
4.Night Safari (Mandai Wildlife Reserve) – Singapore
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.
A new immersive attraction, Exploria, exploring the hidden realms of the natural world, opened at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve in March. This 10,000-square-metre indoor, nature-themed multimedia attraction invites guests to discover extraordinary environments and rare phenomena.
5.Yokohama Zoological Gardens (Zoorasia) – Japan
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 Yokohama's largest zoological garden. 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.
See also: Unlocking global collaboration at the World Species Congress
Zoorasia isinvolved in research to better understand the species. WAZA said that conservation breeding and research of proboscis monkeys in zoos help us better understand their biology and could contribute to in situ and ex situ conservation.
Zoorasia is a member of WAZA and SEAZA.
6.Ocean Park Hong Kong
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 focused 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 facility outside North America to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
7.Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
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.
8.Singapore Oceanarium – Singapore
Resorts World Sentosa opened the Singapore Oceanarium in July 2025. This new attraction is dedicated to marine education, research and conservation with interactive exhibits and immersive displays.
It is a transformation and expansion of the former S.E.A. Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa, and is three times larger than its predecessor.
Visitors can experience an immersive journey across 22 zones, including Ocean Wonders, which houses thousands of moon jellies.
Singapore's Coast features interactive habitats that highlight native biodiversity; Ancient Waters and Conquering Land include life-sized prehistoric animals and living fossils; and the Migrators zone unveils the ecosystems of today's open waters.
Elsewhere, Open Ocean disoplays reef manta rays and zebra sharks behind a 36-metre-wide viewing panel, while the Spirit of Exploration boasts a replica of a 9th-century Arabian dhow, and Explorer’s Nook is a themed cafe.
The new Singapore Oceanarium is part of a $5 billion expansion of Resorts World Sentosa.
9.Khao Kheow Open Zoo – Thailand
Opened in 1978, Khao Kheow Open Zoo is located in Si Racha, Thailand. It covers 2,000 acres, with 400 acres for animal habitats, 200 acres for public spaces, and the remaining 1,400 acres for 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.
10.Taipei Zoo – Taiwan
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 it 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.
11.Taman Safari Indonesia
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.
In 2025, Legacy Entertainment was engaged by Taman Safari to master-plan and design its next generation of experiences and attractions.
Taman Safari Indonesia is a member of SEAZA, and the Bogor park is a WAZA member.
12.Zoo Negara – Malaysia
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 such as 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.
13.Bird Paradise (Mandai Wildlife Reserve) – Singapore
Bird Paradise was the fourth park to open in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, launched in 2023.
Asia’s largest bird park, it is 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, the endangered black-faced spoonbill, and the 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.
"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.
14.Seoul Zoo - South Korea
Image credit 최광모, CC BY-SA, via Wikimedia Commons
Seoul Zoo is South Korea’s largest and one of its oldest zoological parks. Originally established in 1909 as a zoological collection in Seoul, it relocated to its current site within Seoul Grand Park in 1984.
The site covers over 2.42 million square metres, featuring animal habitats alongside natural landscapes, botanical gardens, educational spaces, and conservation facilities. It attracts millions of visitors annually.
Seoul Zoo houses hundreds of species, from big cats and primates to birds, reptiles, and native Korean wildlife. Notable habitats include large herbivores (elephants, rhinos, bison), flamingos, primate houses, and regional animal zones, all designed to promote understanding of biodiversity and conservation.
The zoo emphasises conservation and research, running programmes and labs dedicated to protecting endangered species, including native species from Korea.
Seoul Zoo says it is committed to creating ecological, animal-friendly habitats and outdoor environments for its residents. It is a member of both WAZA and AZA.
15.Aquamarine Fukushima - Japan
Aquamarine FukushimaAquamarine Fukushima, renowned for its immersive exhibits, interactive experiences, and emphasis on coastal ecosystems and marine conservation, is a large environmental aquarium and marine science museum located in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
It features the Shiome Sea Main Tank, which holds about 2,050 cubic metres and includes a triangular glass tunnel that visitors can walk through, along with a sizeable touchpool where visitors can go barefoot to interact with starfish, sea cucumbers, and other marine creatures.
The aquarium houses over 800 species of marine animals, but it is more than just an exhibit space. It is committed to environmental education and research, helping visitors understand marine ecosystems, sustainable fishing, and the connection between humans and the ocean.
It is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) and WAZA.
“Aquamarine Fukushima exhibits stunning animals," said David Rosenberg, then VP of guest experience at Monterey Bay Aquarium speaking to blooloop in 2021 about what makes a great aquarium.
"Ones that are not seen in any other aquarium. It also tells the stories of the fishermen and villagers who live in the area and depend on a healthy ocean to survive. After speaking with authentic storytellers, every visitor becomes engaged in the mission. And they leave inspired to take action.”
Studio City Water Park © Melco
Rainforest Wild Asia 
Singapore Zoo (Mandai Wildlife Reserve)
