The biggest national wild animals zoo opened in Chongqing in southwest China. About 100 species of wild animals have been transported from overseas to the zoo, ranking it first in China. Thousands of animals including white rhinoceroses and kangaroos have come from 14 countries, such as Tanzania, South Africa and Argentina. The zoo was built at a cost of 360 million yuan and covers an area of 333 hectares. It is planning to have a total of 430 species of animals in the years to come.

The zoo will also do research on animal protection and gene studies.

(People’s Daily 01/20/2001)