Hellabrunn Zoo has announced exciting plans to create a state-of-the-art giant panda habitat in Munich

The new facility will be built in cooperation with the Free State of Bavaria and the City of Munich. The joint project is designed to prompt conservation, animal welfare, global biodiversity protection, and international scientific collaboration. 

Hellabrunn Zoo, in collaboration with the Free State of Bavaria and the City of Munich, is launching a groundbreaking new construction project for a state-of-the-art enclosure for the endangered giant panda. The Giant Panda project was officially launched on Wednesday at a signing ceremony in the zoo’s Elephant House, which was attended by Bavarian Minister-President Dr Markus Söder, the Chinese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Germany, H.E. Deng Hongbo, Munich Mayor and Chair of the Hellabrunn Zoo Supervisory Board Verena Dietl, Zoo Director Dr. h.c. Rasem Baban, and the Secretary General of the China Wildlife Conservation Association, Ms. An Lidan. The ceremony highlighted the international significance of the conservation project.

Hellabrunn Zoo plans to build a new 5,000 square metre panda habitat that will include both indoor and outdoor enclosures. The design will feature spacious bamboo areas, water features, and retreat areas, as well as educational displays for visitors about giant pandas, their habitat, and conservation projects in the wild. The entire construction costs for the project will be sponsored by the Free State of Bavaria. The partners involved include Hellabrunn Zoo, the Free State of Bavaria, the City of Munich, the China Wildlife Conservation Association, and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China. 

The official groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to take place in 2026, with the panda habitat set to open in early 2028. Hellabrunn Zoo will host a pair of giant pandas from China for a period of ten years. The breeding pair will live in Munich for the initial ten-year period, with the People's Republic of China retaining ownership of the animals. The goal of this special conservation project is to establish long-term and sustainable cooperation for the conservation of giant pandas.

A symbol of "species conservation made in Munich and Bavaria"

During the unveiling of the plans at the ceremony, Bavarian Minister-President Dr Markus Söder said: "Munich will become Panda City! This will be a unique attraction and a magnet for visitors, and it will make Bavaria the eighth panda location in the EU. Germany will then be the only state in Europe that has two panda locations in one country: Berlin and now Munich. In fact, outside China there are only 19 zoos with 51 pandas worldwide. Pandas are simply adorable. Since my trip to Chengdu and Beijing in 2024, I have been very committed to bringing pandas to Bavaria. It's great that we are now finally able to achieve this! With this project, we are promoting species conservation and the survival of this endangered species, as well as gaining a major new attraction. At the same time, we are strengthening the partnership between China and Bavaria. Cooperation and partnership are more successful than confrontation. We believe in open dialogue. Today marks the culmination of Bavarian-Chinese diplomacy. As a free state, we are proud to facilitate the construction of a panda habitat in the Asia geozone of Hellabrunn Zoo. Today, Bavaria is not only white and blue, but also black and white."

Verena Dietl, Mayor and Chair of the Supervisory Board, is equally enthusiastic about the species: “This project strengthens Munich’s position as an international metropolis of science, culture, and sustainable species conservation. It combines education, ecological responsibility, and an emotional experience of nature for our citizens and our many visitors. It represents a very special recognition of the outstanding work of our zoo. I am delighted that, together with the Free State of Bavaria and our Chinese partners, we are now able to launch this outstanding project and that the extensive preparatory work of the past months has been successful.”

Zoo director, Dr h.c. Rasem Baban, is thrilled about the groundbreaking project at the zoo: "The new giant panda enclosure is a milestone for Hellabrunn. It represents modern animal husbandry, biodiversity conservation, scientific excellence, and active international cooperation – entirely in line with our Master Plan. We are extremely grateful to the Free State of Bavaria and the City of Munich for the trust they have placed in us and for this unique opportunity to secure our role in the implementation of global species conservation projects in the long term."

The new panda enclosure will be built in the eastern section of the zoo, next to the Jungle World in the Asian geozone. Restructuring this geozone has been part of the Hellabrunn Zoo Master Plan since 2016. The existing trees will be integrated into the new enclosure as much as possible to create a natural environment for the animals and to sustainably develop the site.

The new habitat will meet the highest standards of modern animal husbandry. It will be designed to replicate the natural habitat of giant pandas and to encourage breeding. Hellabrunn Zoo aims to work closely with Chinese experts to care for the animals. The project will support global conservation efforts and research, as well as raise awareness about biodiversity and environmental responsibility. The planning and construction of the animal enclosure will adhere to the latest sustainability standards, using energy-efficient design, sustainable materials, and an extensive recycling concept.

Further information online

For more information, please visit the zoo’s dedicated FAQ section for this new building project at: www.hellabrunn.de/panda