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2024 edition
July issue Kanazawa Zoo, I can meet you! Let's think about global warming from the ecology of the endangered koala!

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July issue Kanazawa Zoo, I can meet you! Let's think about global warming from the ecology of the endangered koala!

Last Updated July 1, 2024

There are three zoos with various characteristics in Yokohama. "ZOORASIA on a vast site" and "Nogeyama Zoo where you can enter for free," and "Kanazawa Zoo" in Kanazawa Nature Park, one of the largest greenery in Yokohama. This time, I would like to tell you about the charm of Kanazawa Zoo.
Kanazawa Zoo has been certified as a rare species of conservation Zoo and Botanical Garden, which has only 15 locations nationwide, and is also focusing on environmental conservation of endangered species and biodiversity. It also plays a role in protecting and breeding as a zoo to protect endangered animals, which are increasing year by year due to global warming. Today, we introduce not only the cute koalas, but also what we can do for the growing endangered species, and the events at Kanazawa Zoo this summer.
In addition, in public information Yokohama July issue (outside site) (outside site), as we introduce attractive park in the city including Kanazawa Zoo, please see in addition.

Entrance gate of Kanazawa Zoo

Overview of Coala

Source: Kanazawa Zoo

[Length]
　60～78cm
[Weight]
　Male 7.5-9.5kg, female 4.0-6.0kg
[Distribution]
　Islands from eastern Australia to southern and coastal areas (including hand-in-hand transfers)
[Characteristics]
　It inhabits forest areas in eastern Australia (such as eucalyptus forests).
　It is usually single and does not form a flock.
　It mainly eats eucalyptus leaves. In rare cases, walking on the ground, it is a four-legged walk.

What are the appearance, character, and characteristics of koala?

Source: Kanazawa Zoo

The koalas bred at Kanazawa Zoo are all calm and quiet. During the day, I often sleep except when eating eucalyptus, and begin to move in the evening. Females raise children in stomach bags, and males do not have bags because they are marble like kangaroos. There are two species, Kitakata (Queensland and northern New South Wales) and southern (Southern Victoria and New South Wales). Kanazawa Zoo breeds Kitakata koalas with gray hair color and easy to imagine. Southern koalas have a larger body and brown hair color, and their preferred eucalyptus varieties are different between Kitakata and southern. It seems that the ecology of wild koalas is still unknown.

Koala subspecies

Everyone in Yokohama City

Very delicious!

Koala name

I think you all know that the staple food of koala is eucalyptus. There's a lot to eat! However, since eucalyptus does not grow naturally in Japan, it is necessary to grow from seeds by specialized farmers. Because you get tired of the same eucalyptus, Kanazawa Zoo prepares about 9 kinds of eucalyptus, and seems to be thinking about different menus for 4 to 5 kinds every day.
A koala with a gourmet side that looks like a human being, that only eats eucalyptus and gets tired of the same type. Behind the appearance of eating eucalyptus, which delights many visitors, shows the constant efforts of the breeders.

I sleep for 18 to 20 hours a day.

Asleep koala

Koala is said to be sleeping all day. It takes a lot of time and energy to digest and absorb fibrous and nutritious eucalyptus. That's why I take a lot of sleep so that I don't consume wasteful energy.

There's also a little delicate side...

Koala House Outdoors
Koala Outdoor Exhibition Hall

Koala has a nervous nature, and environmental changes can lead to poor physical condition, so we are raising them with care to create an environment that is less susceptible to stress, such as maintaining a stable temperature.
The indoor exhibition hall has a temperature of around 22 degrees throughout the year and a humidity of about 20-50%. As the humidity increases, it is easy to get sick, so pay special attention to the rainy season and the turn of the season. In addition to temperature control and humidity control, in addition to devising a stop tree so that the koala can move or sit on a tree and rest. I am. The breeder understands the feelings of the koala and prepares the environment to make it easier to live.
Several times a year in spring or autumn, only on days when the temperature is about 20 degrees Celsius and the weather is good, you may come out to the outdoor exhibition hall and show a healthy face. It's a special moment when you can see koalas more closely, not through glass.

Efforts to breed domestic koalas and their difficulties

Every year, zoos that breed koalas in Japan gather together to hold a koala meeting. It seems that they are trying to breed by forming a pair based on the breeding and movement plan examined in it. "I understand the female estrus while watching the video recorded every day, so if the pair's nickname is good, breeding will work well. Koala children often die under one year of age, so we are careful not to stress the koalas in terms of hygiene and mental health. Adult koalas often cause illness and die due to stress, so it is more difficult to maintain the health of koalas than the difficulty of breeding, "said Kasori, the breeding manager. Was.

Koala Parent and Child Source: Kanazawa Zoo

Koala parent and child piggyback Source: Kanazawa Zoo

Coala (Botan <mother> and dandelion <child>, parent and child image left: as of January 2021, right: March 2021)

Critical situation of wild koala

Due to the impact of forest fires, it has become an endangered species in Australia.

On February 12, 2022, the Australian government selected the koala as an endangered species (VU "Fareed Species") on the national Red List. Many people have seen the miserable situation in the press, but in September 2019, a large-scale forest fire throughout Australia destroyed an estimated 170,000 square kilometers of forests and wilderness (almost twice as much as Hokkaido). Because About 60,000 koalas were sacrificed, fortunately survived, or lost the forest where the rescued koalas lived.
There are 17,416 species of animals on the Red List (list of endangered world wildlife) in the world, including koalas (Source: IUCN <Japan Committee for the Protection of Nature) as of December 2023>. Kanazawa Zoo is engaged in breeding and conservation of 15 species of red list animals.
For more information, please visit the WWF web page (external site).

What we can do to protect endangered species

Bamboo sprouts

The causes of wild animals to become extinct are "overfishing", "destructing habitats", and "exotic species". The overlapping global warming (climate change) further increases the risk of wildlife extinction. In recent years, climate change is progressing at a rapid pace, and the emergence of flora and fauna that is declining and extinct in keeping with changes in the environment is a major challenge.
Of course, there is not only one cause of the extinction of living organisms, but it depends on the complex effects of various factors, but we also feel closer and deeply think about global warming, which has a large impact on ecosystems, It is necessary to implement initiatives that can maintain a balance of the ecosystem.

Pegasus
Arabic ORIX

"First of all, I think it's important to know what kind of animals live on the earth, what kind of environment they prefer, and how they live in relation to the environment. For that reason, there is a zoo. I'm glad if you come to the zoo and get to know the various animals and their habitats, "said Mr. Saito, a public relations officer.
Global warming (climate change) is a major factor in human life. In order to protect an environment where animals can live easily, it is important to practice things that can be easily done in daily life, such as turning off electricity frequently, cherishing water, and reducing garbage. . I think it will help protect animals in danger of extinction, and I would like to work on them.

Let's go to Kanazawa Zoo, which is rich in nature!

Mr. Bonn
Nonohana Gift Shop (Botanical District)

Kanazawa Zoo is located in the southern part of Yokohama City and is located in the green Kanazawa Nature Park surrounded by the conservation area near Mt.
In the park, animals are displayed on four continents, "American Ward", "Eurasia Ward", "Oceania Ward", and "Africa Ward" according to habitat. There are about 50 species and 1,000 animals living there. Kanazawa Nature Park is home to a wide variety of wild birds such as the endangered Japanese Night Heron, as well as small creatures such as Montane Brown Frog and Miyama stag beetles, as well as wild grasses such as Amana.
"Bon-kun", an Indian elephant with the longest fangs in Japan, is a powerful score! The original stuffed animals of "Bonn-kun" sold at "Nohana Gift Shop (Botan District)" have a very realistic and cute finish.

Souvenir
"Bon-kun," an Indian elephant

Bon-kun stuffed toy
Original stuffed toy of "Bonn-kun"

Miyama
Original stuffed toy of "Miyamakuwagawa"

One of the largest roller slides in the city

In addition, you can feel plenty of negative ions of nature, such as the adjacent "Citizen's Forest", "Honobo no Hiroba" with livestock such as ponies, goats and sheep, and "One of the largest roller slides in the city" in Children's Square You can forget your time and enjoy it all day, such as the "barbecue Square" that you can enjoy with your family.
In addition, the view is good because of the hills, and from the "Shino Kiyama Observation Deck", you can see Marine Park, Hakkeijima, Tokyo Bay, Kannonzaki, and the Boso Peninsula in the distance below! It's a great experience.
(For details, see the official web page of Kanazawa Zoo (outside site))

Koala sign

Landscape

Kanazawa Zoo Map

Topics

Summer vacation project

From Saturday, July 20, summer vacation project "Let's know familiar creatures!" It started. You may be able to meet endangered species, such as "Miyama wagata" born in the city, and small creatures that you do not usually see.
Also, at the annual summer vacation “Night Kanazawa ZOO”, which is held on Saturday, Sunday and 12th of August, you may be able to see animals a bit different from noon. On Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11, "Elephant Night" will be held in conjunction with World Elephant Day on August 12, and special guides and sales will be provided by conservation groups and others in front of the Indian Elephant Exhibition Hallconservation. Why don't you come to the park to make summer memories?

Elephant at night Source: Kanazawa Zoo