Overview
- Hellabrunn invited media to a Wednesday press conference with Markus Söder, Mayor Verena Dietl and zoo director Rasem Baban to present a “pathbreaking” construction project.
- Officials have declined to confirm whether two giant pandas are coming or to share costs, though Münchner Merkur and tz reported a loan from China is planned.
- A Munich panda pair would make Hellabrunn Germany’s second panda location after Berlin, which has attracted heavy visitor demand for its bears.
- Typical panda-loan terms reportedly include around €1 million per breeding pair and stipulate that all offspring remain the property of China.
- Any relocation would require a dedicated enclosure, and Hellabrunn currently houses only the red panda.