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Munich Zoo Signals Major Build After Reports of Panda Loan From China

Formal confirmation of the reported China loan remains pending ahead of a Wednesday briefing with Markus Söder.

Overview

  • Local media reported that Tierpark Hellabrunn is expected to receive two giant pandas on loan from China.
  • The zoo announced a landmark new-build and scheduled a Wednesday press conference with Markus Söder, Verena Dietl and director Rasem Baban.
  • The City of Munich, the Bavarian State Chancellery and the zoo declined to provide additional details when asked.
  • If realized, Hellabrunn would become only the second German zoo with giant pandas after Berlin.
  • Typical loan terms cited by Pro Wildlife and the Berlin Zoo include fees of about €1 million per pair and Chinese ownership of any cubs, reflecting China’s broader panda diplomacy that Söder courted during a 2024 trip.