Khao Kheow Open Zoo Celebrates 48th Anniversary with Free Entry on June 3
Khao Kheow Open Zoo will celebrate its 48th anniversary June 1-3, offering free admission for children under 135 centimeters tall and seniors aged 60 and above on June 3. The three-day festival will feature interactive animal feeding sessions, live music performances, and conservation exhibitions showcasing the zoo's breeding and research programs.
What to Expect and How to Plan Your Visit
The anniversary celebration, titled "48 Years of Wild Thanks (Caravan of Thanks from the Heart)," runs June 1-3 with activities centered on visitor engagement and animal welfare education.
Key Details for Residents:
• Admission pricing: ฿150 for Thai nationals, ฿300 for non-Thai visitors. June 3 is free for children and seniors
• Operating hours: 08:00-18:00 daily
• Location and travel time: Approximately 30-40 minutes from central Pattaya via Motorway 7 (Bangkok-Chonburi-Pattaya Expressway), exiting at Si Racha. Public transport: intercity coaches serve Si Racha bus terminal; songthaew or taxi available for the final 15 kilometers
• Special offer: Thai-born adults celebrating June birthdays receive 20% discount across the three-day period
Festival Activities:The "Caravan of Wild Animal Food" sessions allow direct participation in animal enrichment. Guests can feed giant capybaras, two-toed sloths, and hippopotamuses while educators explain dietary requirements and foraging patterns. The facility's signature Night Zoo experience (operating Friday, Saturday, and public holidays until 21:00) features guided tram tours through nocturnal animal zones—civets, slow lorises, fishing cats—using red-spectrum lighting to minimize stress on light-sensitive species.
Additional attractions include live music performances in botanical zones, photo opportunities with Happy Zoo mascot characters, and an OTOP (One Tambon One Product) marketplace featuring handicrafts and regional food items. Management is renovating the entrance plaza into an eco-conscious food court using sustainable materials.
Once inside the 2,000-acre grounds, visitors use the zoo's internal tram network, a practical necessity given the facility's scale.
The Moo Deng Effect: How a Baby Hippo Transformed Eastern Thailand Tourism
For years, Khao Kheow maintained steady annual attendance of 600,000 to 700,000 visitors. In July 2024, a pygmy hippopotamus calf was born and christened Moo Deng, becoming a viral sensation across social media platforms within weeks. By October 2024, single-day foot traffic surged fourfold—from approximately 3,000 visitors to peak days exceeding 12,000. October alone logged 300,000 admissions, demolishing previous monthly records.
As of December 2024, the facility had welcomed 480,000 guests since fiscal year start (October 1), with projections suggesting annual figures will exceed 1 million by fiscal year-end September 2025.
The ripples extended far beyond the zoo's entrance. Chonburi Province recorded ฿27 billion in tourism revenue during the July-October 2024 window—a 4% year-on-year increase. International arrival patterns shifted measurably, with 10% growth primarily sourced from China, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. Most extended stays at Bang Saen Beach, the Si Racha seafood quarter, and Ko Sichang—each benefiting from ancillary spending at hotels, restaurants, and boat services.
The commercial ecosystem expanded rapidly. Moo Deng-branded merchandise—plushies, apparel, snacks—generated ฿150 million in licensing revenue, demonstrating how a charismatic animal can anchor an entire commercial ecosystem. Zoo management has targeted Tripadvisor's top-five Asian zoos ranking by year-end 2026, a position the facility last held in 2014.
Conservation Credentials Behind the Celebration
The zoo operates under four explicit mandates: wildlife conservation, public education, scientific research, and sustainable tourism. The facility is Asia's second-largest open-concept zoo and Thailand's only wildlife facility holding World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) certification—a unique credential among Thai zoos marking compliance with animal welfare standards, scientific rigor, and environmental stewardship.
Conservation Initiatives:
The white-necked stork, classified vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, benefits from a captive-breeding initiative that has produced multiple generations, reducing pressure on wild Southeast Asian populations. The grey peacock-pheasant and oriental pied hornbill—equally vulnerable—receive similar attention. Youth biodiversity workshops, conducted under the Royal Initiative Project for the Conservation of Plant Genetics, draw students from Chonburi and neighboring provinces into hands-on fieldwork involving reforestation and habitat restoration for lowland forest species.
The collection spans more than 8,000 individual animals representing over 300 species, from common Southeast Asian wildlife to globally endangered populations. These initiatives distinguish the zoo from entertainment venues, positioning it as a legitimate research institution supporting Thailand's conservation objectives.
Practical Information for Residents
For expat families and Thai nationals in Pattaya, Rayong, and Bangkok's eastern suburbs, Khao Kheow offers accessible weekend alternatives to repetitive beach outings and shopping mall visits. The 30-40 minute drive from central Pattaya makes it feasible for day trips without logistics associated with longer regional excursions. Interactive animal feeding sessions and conservation exhibitions add substance beyond passive observation. For retirees, June 3's free admission represents meaningful financial savings while providing outdoor activity within maintained grounds.
The facility maintains wheelchair accessibility with adapted tram routes and restrooms conforming to Thailand Ministry of Public Health guidelines. June coincides with peak rainy season in Eastern Thailand, so pack umbrellas—afternoon thunderstorms typically clear within hours and rarely disrupt zoo operations.
Contact Information:For event schedules, reservations, or real-time crowd updates, contact Khao Kheow Open Zoo at 038-318-444 or check the official Facebook page (สวนสัตว์เปิดเขาเขียว).
