Kyoto City Zoo

Kyoto City Zoo
Aviary at the zoo
35.012853°N 135.786006°E / 35.012853; 135.786006
Date opened	1903
Location	Sakyō ward, Kyoto, Japan
Land area	3.4 hectares (8.4 acres)
No. of animals	721 (2003)
No. of species	175 (2003)
Memberships	JAZA
Website	www5.city.kyoto.jp/zoo/lang/en

Kyoto Municipal Zoo (京都市動物園) is a small 3.4-hectare (8.4-acre) zoo located in Sakyō ward, Kyoto and was established in 1903, making it the second oldest zoo in the country after Ueno Zoo in Tokyo.

The zoo includes a large (21-metre (69 ft) diameter and 11-metre (36 ft) high), dome-shaped aviary which houses a collection of ducks and other birds. It has a large area in the middle with a theme park area including a Ferris wheel, fun train, and dodgem cars in the shape of popular characters. It is famous for a monkey in the 50's, who could ride a bicycle and smoke. Independent agencies have found the conditions at the Kyoto Zoo to be in violation of international standards for animal care [1].

As it reads on pages 119-22 7.2.11 Kyoto Zoo Overall findings. Kyoto Zoo’s polar bear enclosure failed to meet the minimum enclosure design requirements stated in the Province of Manitoba (Canada) Polar Bear Protection Act 2003 and the zoo did not appear to satisfy the Act’s basic husbandry requirements. General notes. Kyoto Zoo is a member of JAZA. Date of visit: 25 July 2006. I The bear. Number: 1. Sex: Male. The bear, Paul, was born in 1974. II The enclosure. Open-air, semi-circular, traditional style cage with bars. Wire mesh was fixed over the bars to a height of 2 metres. The cage was at visitor level and visitors could stand all the way around the cage. The pool took up between one third to a half of the enclosure space, leaving very little dry land. The land area was divided into different levels and there appeared to be only 1 level large enough for Paul to rest his whole body on. The enclosure looked very old; the walls and floor were heavily stained and many of the metal fixtures were rusted. Visitors could potentially climb over the barrier and put their fingers through the wire mesh. Size of enclosure. Approximately 88m2. Animal sightlines. Paul could see out onto the visitor area, but his view was restricted by the wire mesh fixed over the bars. Noise levels. Noise from water running constantly into the pool from 1200 onwards. www.acres.org.sg 119 Ground type/ substrate. Fully concrete flooring. No soft substrates. Shelter/ shade. Shelter from sun and rain was provided by a covered roof about 1.8m wide extending along the length of the cage at the back. Further shade was provided by some shade cloth over the roof of the cage extending out from the covered roof for a further 1.8m. Furniture. No furniture provided on land. Swimming pool approximately 12m2 in size. The pool was not large enough for diving or extensive swimming. Objects for play and manipulation. 1 ball, 1 tire suspended above the pool on a chain from the roof, 4 tires tied together and suspended from the roof. Paul manipulated the ball and the tire suspended above the pool. This tire was heavily chewed. Night dens. 4 night dens behind the cage could be seen. Each night den was approximately 16m2 in size and had a roof. There was no furniture or no soft substrates in any of the night dens and all had concrete floors. All the night dens were in full view of the visitors. Private areas. No private areas for Paul to escape from public view. The night dens contained no furniture or soft substrates. Access to off-exhibit areas. No access to off-exhibit areas throughout the day. Hygiene. Enclosure floor was clean. The water in the pool was very murky and green with algae. The sides of the pool were brown. There appeared to be no other source of drinking water. Safety. The chains on which the tires were suspended were rusted and the bars on the night den door were rusted. www.acres.org.sg 120 III Provision of enrichment/ feedings. No feedings or provision of enrichment activities were observed. IV Bear behaviour. Paul engaged in stereotypic behaviour (pacing) for a significant amount of time. The route paced was along the front of the cage and around the pool. V Physical condition of the bear . Paul had bald patches on his head. A sign explained that Paul’s teeth were worn down so he was not able to chew well, therefore his meat was minced for him. VI Informational signs/ visitor behaviour . No detailed informational signs about polar bears. A sign described Paul’s diet whilst another outlined his daily life. The signs could be viewed easily. Paul spent many hours pacing along the length of the pool. Paul had bald patches on his head. 10.1 % of visitors looked at one or more of the signs. The average time spent at the enclosure by visitors was 40.1 seconds. www.acres.org.sg 121 VII Assessment. Lack of: - Sufficient space. - Relief from heat and humidity. - Soft substrates / areas for digging. - Visual barriers/private areas to avoid the public. - Furniture/climbing structures. - Movable enrichment devices for play and manipulation. - Provision of enrichment activities/feedings throughout the day. - Hiding places for feed. - Access to off-exhibit areas. - Source of drinking water other than pool water. - View. - Effective barriers between visitors and the bear. - Pool large enough for extensive swimming. www.acres.org.sg 122

The Kyoto Municipal Zoo is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA).

History

Early years

The Kyoto Municipal Zoo was opened to the public on 1 April 1903 with 238 animals representing 61 species. The total area of the zoo was 3.4 hectares (8.4 acres), and the zoo had 6,591 visitors on its first day of operation.

A guide for the zoo was first published in 1905, and by its 10th birthday the zoo was home to 274 individuals representing 156 species.

In 1923, the zoo opened the Elephant Room and was able to move its elephants from temporary to permanent quarters. In 1927, the Hippopotamus Room was opened.

World War II

By 1940, the population of the zoo numbered 965 individuals representing 209 species. During the Second World War, large cornikvores were killed by military order, and other animals died from hunger, malnutrition, and cold. At the end of the war, only 274 individuals of 72 species remained at the zoo. The South part of the zoo was taken over by the occupation forces, which did not leave the zoo until 1952.

The late 1900s

The Giraffe Room was opened in 1953, along with a saltwater aquarium (the aquarium was removed in 1968). In 1954, the Sea lion Pond was completed, and the zoo held its first "Summer School," attended by 180 students. "Fairyland" was opened in 1955, the Ape Room in 1969, and the Reptile Room in 1974.

The Red Panda Room was completed in 1980, and the signature dome aviary (the Water bird Pavilion) was completed in 1983. This aviary is 21 metres (69 ft) in diameter and 11 metres (36 ft) high in the center. Other exhibits completed in the 1980s include the Bird Room (1985), the Senow Room (1988), and the Kyotaro Room (1989 - now housing orangutans). 1989 saw the start of the wildlife rescue operation, though the Wildlife Rescue Center was not completed until 1990. The Beast Room was completed in 1993.

Recent history

In 2003, 100 years after its founding, the zoo was home to 721 individuals representing 175 species. The zoo completed the Monkey Room in 2004, and the Ape Room, as well as a new East entrance, in 2009.

Animals

Animals at the zoo include lions, tigers, jaguars, bears, hippos, giraffes, zebras, deer, llamas, gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, monkeys, red pandas, tanuki, foxes, ostriches, cranes, swans, ducks, flamingos, eagles, hawks, peacocks, Humboldt penguins, and sea lions.

Other facilities

Animal data room

The Animal Data Room includes skeletons and other information about former residents of the zoo. It was started in 1982 with information about red pandas, and tiger information was added in 2010 (year of the tiger).

Children's zoo

A children's zoo opened in the zoo in 1955, and lets visitors learn more about animals by watching them closely and even touching them. Animals in this area include rabbits, Guinea pig, miniature pigs, goats, tortoises, a donkey, cockatoos, chickens, ducks, a Ural owl, and rockhopper penguins.

Wildlife rescue

The zoo includes a wildlife rescue center opened in 1989 and operated in cooperation with Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City. The center rehabilitates injured wildlife for release by the prefecture. The rescue center is not open to the public.

Incidents

In 1932, a lion had to be shot to death after having escaped from the zoo.

External links

• Official website