JAPAN ZOO STUDY
Prepared by Dr. John Gripper
July 1996
All Life In a Viable Environment (ALIVE)
2-5-12 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113 Japan
03-3818-1391 phone
03-3818-1395 fax
All Life In a Viable Environment (ALIVE) is a non-profit citizens organization made up of people who, in recognition of the fact that all life on Earth forms part of a single ecology, are alert to the suffering of wild animals. experimental animals, stock-bred animals, etc., and who are working to tackle a wide range of problems that confront animals today. In our efforts to eliminate animal abuse and prevent the spread of industries that exploit animals cruelly or commit violence against life, we gather and supply information, organize campaigns and attempt to engage public opinion. In addition, we are working to ensure the passage of effective legislation concerning animal welfare and protection in Japan.
Born Free Foundation
Coldharbour Dorking
Surrey RH56HA England
01306-712-091 phone
01306-713-350 fax
The Born Free Foundation (BFF), based in England, has been working since 1984 to reform the conditions in zoos worldwide. BFF has been o pioneer in exposing the psychological distress of many captive animals. The organization also played a leading role in helping to bring an end to captive dolphin industry in the United Kingdom. Besides its work with zoos, BFF has a number of educational programs aimed at empowering people to protect species in the world.
This report was authored by Dr, John Gripper who was commissioned by ALIVE and BFF but
acted as an independent contractor, Therefore, the report is Dr. Gripper's opinion, and
ALIVE and BFF disclaim any inaccuracies.
JAPAN ZOO STUDY - AN INVESTIGATION REPORT
The future of wild mammals and their natural environment is a subject that has been dear to my heart and central to the work of the Born Free Foundation for many, many years.
Part of that debate involves zoos - whether they make a positive contribution to public education or conservation and whether they can truly meet the physical and psychological welfare needs of the mammals they confine.
If they do not then they are an anachronism that has no place in the modern world since they divert attention, effort and resources away from the protection of wild areas and the species they contain.
To analyse the future role of zoos, the Born Free Foundation and the World Society for the Protection of Animals launched a global zoo investigation with the publication, in 1994, of the Zoo Inquiry.
This report concluded that the great majority of zoo served no positive purpose but effectively reinforce human concepts of domination, control and the notion that animals are little more than objects of entertainment.
Since that first report, Zoo Inquiry investigations have been undertaken in Canada and the United States. What these emphasise is that the plight of captive wild animals is not something that is related to one part of the world and not another. It is a global problem.
This was confirmed for me when was sent a videotape of Japanese mammal collections in 1995. The severity of the problems faced by mammals in Japanese zoos was graphically illustrated. I was honoured when I was asked to assist and offered my help in whatever way I could.
I would like to stress that the inspiration for my presence here today and the driving force behind this campaign is ALIVE. It is my privilege to support their efforts to persuade the authorities that the kind of captivity that has been highlighted is unethical and does the people of Japan no service. Laws to prevent such suffering must either be enforced or, if necessary, created.
It is my great pleasure to share this platform with ALIVE, a visionary and dedicated group working to promote the welfare of animals and respect for the environment in Japan. I am also grateful to ARK which first brought to my attention the distressing conditions in Japanese zoos that form the basis of this initiative.
Virginia McKenna
Born Free Foundation.
Japanese zoos is a report by Dr. John Gripper, a British wildlife veterinarian and a zoo inspector for the British Government. In July 1996, at the request of the Japan-based NGO ALIVE in cooperation with the British-based Born Free Foundation, Dr Gripper visited Japan and carried out inspections at ten zoological gardens.
1. Classification of Inspected Zoos.
The zoos inspected by Dr. Gripper can be classifed broadly into three types.
(1) Zoos run by local governments and supported by the taxpayer.
Ueno Zoo and Tennoji Zoo are both municipal zoos located in the large cities. Both have greater financial resources compared with zoos run by most other local governments, and so they have carried out a number of recent improvements.
Odawara Zoo is a small zoo in which animal cages are dotted here and there in a park surrounding a castle. Himeji Zoo is inside Himeji Castle which is a designated World Heritage Site and a National Treasure. These two facilities are typical of the traditional zoo in which cage space is narrow and abnormal animal behavior can be routinely observed.
(2) Zoos run by private corporations (mainly railway and tourism companies).
The Japanese Monkey Center is a zoo exclusively for monkeys and other primates which is run by the Nagoya Railway Company, Ltd. This zoo collects nineteen species of primates from around the world. In addition, it takes in unwanted primates from other zoos and supplies them to colleges and pharmaceutical companies for experimentation involving vivisection.
Takarazuka Zoo is run by the Hankyu Railway Company, Ltd. It is located inside the company's amusement park, Takarazuka Family Land.
Enoshima Aquarium is Japan's oldest marine zoo and the first to begin dolphin shows.
The facilities are old and the marine mammals are enclosed in extremely small tanks.
(3) Zoos run by individuals or families.
Petland Himeji is a facility run by a couple. They engage in the breeding, buying and selling of small animals and they keep and exhibit animals whose owners are no longer able to keep them. There are too many animals for the space available and the animals are neglected and un-cared for.
Shirotori Animal Land is a zoo run by a family and specializes in performances of dogs, monkeys, goats, tigers and lions. Fierce animals kept at this facility have their nails and fangs removed. The animals' cages are extremely small and their living environment is poor.
Yoshikawa Shokai, a dealer in wild animals, imports, sells, transports and keeps zoo animals. The cages in which the animals are kept are extremely cramped. Yoshikawa also holds monkeys and other animals that are surplus to the requirements of zoos.
2. Towards the Establishment of a Legal Framework for Animal Welfare
In Japan, there is a statute entitled "Standards Relating to the Keeping and Custody of Animals for Exhibition, etc., 1976" which is based on "The Law Concerning the Protection and Control of Animals, 1973". However, neither these standards nor the law itself includes regulations relating to animal welfare and there are no regulations whatsoever governing the activities of animal dealers. At present in Japan, many of the people engaged in animal breeding, sales, trading and keeping are maintaining their animals in very poor conditions and as a matter of conscience the situation cannot be ignored any longer. Also in Japan there are no laws to protect wild marine mammals that are considered to be marine resources or harmful pests, and under this situation approx. 20,000 dolphins are caught each year. Of these animals, several hundred are sold to marine parks or leisure facilities each year where they are kept without exception in very small tanks. We urge both local governments and the Japanese national government to take immediate and effective administrative measures toward abolishing such practices and ensuring animal welfare and protection.
3. Toward the Closure or Improvement of Substandard Zoos
As a result of the inspection undertaken by Dr. Gripper, the extremely poor conditions that prevail at many Japanese zoos have become clear and will be publicized internationally.
Many facilities are simply show tents to which no improvements worth mentioning have been made in decades. The animals placed in these facilities don't receive the basic care that they require as living beings and as a result they live and die in miserable circumstances.
We will endeavor to bring the appalling conditions in which many zoo animals are kept to the attention of as many people as possible, and stress to Japanese society its basic responsibility to recognize and respect the dignity of life.
Fusako Nogami
President
All Life in a Viable Environment (ALIVE)
Appendix A - Enoshima Aquarium, Enoshima.
Appendix B - Himeji Zoo
Appendix C - Japan Monkey Centre, Inuyama
Appendix D - Odwara Zoo, Odwara City
Appendix E - Pet Land
Appendix F - Shirotori Animal Land
Appendix G - Tennoji Zoo, Osaka
Appendix H - Takarazuka Familyland
Appendix I - Ueno Zoo, Tokyo
Appendix J - Yosikawa-Syokaj. Animal Dealer
Appendix Q - EAZA Standards for the accommodation and care of animals in zoos - Missing.
Dr John Gripper is a veterinarian who has spent over 30 years in general practice in the U.K. During this time he was a wildlife vet at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, Oxfordshire. He has been an appointed zoo inspector in the U.K. since the Zoo Licensing Act came into operation in 1984,
He is a Director for the World Society for the Protection of Animals and a member of their Zoo Task Force. He has advised WSPA on the construction of bear sanctuaries in Greece and Turkey.
On behalf of WSPA and the Born Free Foundation he has visited zoos in many countries around the world including Belgium, Bosnia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Hong Kong, Lithuania. Monaco. Romania, Russia, Siberia, Slovakia, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turkey, Ukraine, U.S.A and Zimbabwe.
He is Chairman and founder of the Sebakwe Black Rhino Trust which supports a free range black rhino conservancy in the Midlands area of 2imbabwe.
During this inspection of zoos in Japan it was decided to concentrate on those aspects of the zoos that can be seen by the public, supplemented by information supplied by the zoo director and his staff.
This report will cover enclosures, safety and security, animal welfare, environmental enrichment, education and conservation but will not include comments on veterinary care, staffing, management, feeding or record keeping. .
I would like to acknowledge the help and assistance 1 received during this tour and study of zoos from Una Trueblood and Virginia McKenna from the Born Free Foundation.
The itinerary was organised by Alive, the Japanese animal welfare group. I was accompanied throughout my visit by members of this group and would like to thank Fusako Nogami, Kitawura Takashi and Taeko Nagai, Hatsuo Matsumara, Mary Corbett, Ayako Minami, Kumiko Tabuchi, Mr & Mrs Yamamoto, Elizabeth Oliver, Nogami and Funahashi and especially to Kazou Kawakami who met me at Tokyo airport and accompanied me for the whole week. I must acknowledge their determination in completing a heavy schedule successfully in hot weather.
a) Japan
The law in Japan covering the protection and control of animals is Law No. 105, October 1973.
The purpose of this law is to prevent cruelty to animals, the appropriate treatment of animals and the protection of animals.
The Fundamental principle is set out in Article 2. All people must not only refrain from killing, injuring, and inflicting cruelty upon animals, but they must also treat animals properly, taking their natural habitats into account.
The Animal Protection Council should be established as an advisory organ of the Prime Minister's Office.
There is a section entitled Standards relating to the keeping and custody of animals for exhibition - (notification No 7 February 10 1976). However, this section is of a general nature and does not set any standards or inspection procedure within the legislation for the keeping of wild life in zoos,
Article No 13 states that any person who cruelly treats or who abandons a protected animal shall be liable to a fine or minor fine of not more than JPY 30,000.
There appears to be no special animal legislation in regard to pet shops or for quarantine for the import of wild animals.
b) European Association of Zoos and Aquarium (EAZA)
This is a voluntary group of zoos within Europe and membership can either by affiliate (non voting) or full membership (full voting).
There is a set of EAZA standards which are enclosed as an appendix to this report but there would appear to be no inspection of individual zoos prior to acceptance for membership of EAZA.
c) Japanese Association of Zoological Gardens and Aquarium (JAZGA)
This is a voluntary group of zoos within Japan to which 180 zoos have joined. New members receive an inspection visit.
In December 1976 there was published by JASGA a set of Guidelines for the keeping of animals for display purposes.
However, these guidelines set very small standards of enclosure signs and are now outdated.
Examples of the enclosure sizes were:-
Bears - 4 x 4 x 3 meters
Lion - 3 x 4 x 3 meters
Hyena -2 x 3 x3 meters
Gorilla - 5 x 5 x 3 meters
d) U.K. Legislation
In the U.K., the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976 does not apply to zoos but requires individuals to obtain a licence for keeping a dangerous wild animal.
In 1984, The Zoo Licensing Act was introduced which brought all zoo collections under an inspection and licensing system.
Following the introduction of this Zoo Licensing Act, many sub standard zoos have closed down, and there was an improvement in the standards of the remaining zoos.
It is expected that there will be a similar European Zoo Licensing Act within the countries of the European Union.
There is a separate Pet Shop Act whereby local authorities are
responsible for the inspection and licensing of pet shops for the sale of animals.
e) International
There are no international laws governing the possession and/or public display of wildlife, though trade in endangered species is controlled through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
An enclosure is defined as any accommodation provided for animals in zoos. Standards for the accommodation and care of animals in zoos have been set out in June 1994 by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
This report sets the following standards for Accommodation - Space, Exercise and grouping:-
1. Animals to be provided with an environment, space and furniture sufficient to allow such exercise as is needed for the welfare of the particular species.
2. Enclosures to be of a sufficient size and animals so managed:-
a) to avoid animals within herds or groups being unduly dominated by individuals.
b) to avoid the persistent and unresolved conflict between herd or group members or
between different species in mixed exhibits.
c) to ensure that the physical carrying capacity of the enclosure is not over burdened.
d) to prevent an unacceptable build-up of parasites and other pathogens.
3) Animals not to be unnaturally provoked for the benefit of the viewing public.
4) Animals in visibly adjoining enclosures to be those which do not interact in an excessively stressful way,
5) Separate accommodation for pregnant animals and animals with young to be available, if necessary, in the interests of avoiding unnecessary stress or suffering,
6) Animals in outdoor encloses to be provided with sufficient shelter from inclement weather or excessive sunlight where this is necessary for their comfort and wellbeing.
There is a need in any enclosure for the animal to be able to retreat from the visiting public, from cage mates or from some negative environmental factors (Lawrence Curtis, Oklahoma City Zoo).
Enclosures which become rusty or corroded, in addition to being a danger to the animals, have the potential for breakage, thereby allowing for the escape of the animals (AZA Accreditation Standards).
Many of the zoos which 1 visited in Japan had enclosures that were too small in size.
Guardrails/barriers must be constructed in all areas where the visiting public could have contact with other than handleable animals.
The advice given in the EAZA standards goes into further details about the need for enclosure barriers and stand off barriers.
There should also be a perimeter fence which should surround the whole zoo.
These measures are designed to avoid injury to members of the public and also prevent escape of wild animals.
Some of the zoos in Japan had no stand off barriers between hazardous animals and the public or barriers that were not fully childproof.
Some scientists equate animal welfare with biological fitness, claiming that welfare is only reduced if the animal's inability to survive and reproduce is impaired.
However Broom (1991) argues that although physical condition is important, an animal's welfare may also be poor in the absence of physical problems for example if the animal is frightened, anxious, frustrated or bored, Other researchers have distinguished between physical animal health and animal suffering caused by an unpleasant mental state.
Assessing welfare is relatively simple for those who think that breeding and physical health are the definitive measures to use. The measurement is less easy for these who believe that an animal's feelings are a more important determinate of its welfare.
The interpretation of animal welfare and suffering involves a subjective judgement based on observation and knowledge of normal animal behaviour.
Abnormal or stereotypic behaviour is an indication of chronic suffering caused by frustration, boredom, depression and anxiety (Lawrence and Rushen).
Broom has defined a stereotype as a repeated, relatively invariate sequence of movements that has no obvious purpose. Stereotypic behaviour may take the form of pacing, circling and head weaving and self mutilation.
Orienting consists of movements of the head and7or the whole body which direct the sensory organs towards a perceived goal or stimulus. Behavioural fixation or vacuum activity is a form of immobile posture.
Throughout my inspection of zoos in Japan I saw many examples of stereotypic behaviour in captive animals, especially those in small cages or enclosures.
Zoo animals require to be fed special diets prepared under hygienic conditions and scientifically designed for individual needs within each species. This is not possible when indiscriminate feeding of animals by the public is permitted.
Furthermore there is a danger from public feeding that poisonous or hazardous items will be given to the animals such as coins, cigarettes, silver paper and plastic bags.
Uncontrolled feeding by visitors is not permitted. Food and drink provided for animals to be of the nutritive and quantity required for the a particular species and for individual animals within each species (EAZA).
The majority of zoos in Japan did not permit feeding of the animals by the public.
Whilst the quantity of space. can be considered a core requirement in the housing of all captive animals, attention paid to methods or systems for environmental and/or behavioral enrichment of the animals surroundings plays an essential role in providing a high quality of space. Quantity and quality of space act synergistically to satisfy the physical and psychological needs of the captive animal. Enclosure design and placement, building materials, cage furnishings and daily management can be critical in the elimination or mitigation of welfare problems manifested by stereotypic behaviour patterns.
The goal of any enrichment tactic is twofold: first, it provides an animal with power or the ability to make a choice in its daily routine: and secondly, it provides a means by which an animal can express a facet of its natural behaviour, The enrichment or enhancement of a captive environment should take into consideration the nature of the subject species and the personality of the individual animal(s).
What is now often thought of as enrichment began when we moved beyond the sterile cage to the naturalistic habitat. If such a habitat is sensitively and appropriately designed and maintained from the outset, little more in the way of enrichment may be needed. However numerous situations exist where enrichment modifications are in order to make up for the flaws or shortcomings of typical captive accommodations.
Environmental enrichment can be carried out by the management of husbandry procedures such as variations in the feeding regimes such as:-
a) Random feeding times
b) Frequency of daily feeds
c) Varying amount of food fed
d) Feeding methods i.e. scatter feeding to encourage foraging
e) Varying food types fed
Enrichment can also be implemented by improvements to the lay out of the enclosures:-
a) Change of enclosure
b) Change of lay out
c) Introduction of natural habitat i.e. tree trunks, branches c1imbing frames, shrubs, wood piles, nesting areas, straw, water pools.
d) Introduction of devices such as swings, bungee rubbers, ropes, toys, bars and tires.
Many of the animal exhibits and enclosures in the zoos in Japan that I visited had a barren environment and there was a poor understanding of modern enrichment procedures.
Education should be an important and integral function of all zoos and is part of the justification for keeping wild animals in captivity.
However if the animals on display are not in a state of well being or are in sub standard accommodation or enclosures then a negative message is portrayed to the public. For this reason all zoos must move towards more naturalistic exhibits.
Education is more than just putting up a sign with the name of the species outside the cage. More detailed information should be displayed about the exhibits and this should be supplemented by hand out literature and informative guide books, pro-active audio visual aids and educational programmes for children.
About half of the zoos 1 visited in Japan had good educational notices and information on display and some also had full time educational staff with special lecture and teaching rooms for school children.
The Rio Summit, The Convention on Biological Diversity and the recently amended mission statement of IUCN, all have one objective at the centre of their agenda which may be summarised as follows:-
The conservation and sustainable management of natural ecosystems and the wild species that inhabit them.
The role of ex situ conservation programmes through captive breeding of endangered species in zoos and reintroduction back to the wild has been of limited success.
The future of successful conservation programmes is international habitat based where the natural ecosystem is preserved and supported by the local people, this may have to be supported by in-situ captive breeding.
The international conservation programmes carried out worldwide have been based on captive breeding of endangered species. More involvement by zoos is needed in overseas field projects and research involving the protection of the local habitat
The value to conservation of poor standard zoos with uncontrolled breeding of common species is NIL.
A consideration of the standards set by the U.K. Licensing Act in relation to my inspection of zoos in Japan showed that, of the nine zoos visited, only three attained the necessary standard.
The three zoos that passed the standards subject to compliance with the recommendations were:
Japan Monkey Centre, Inuyama
Tennoji Zoo, Osaka
Ueno Zoo, Tokyo
1) All captive wild animals must be kept in a manner that ensures the animals wellbeing and addresses the physical behavioral, psychological, nutritional and social needs. Captive wild animals must be housed in environments that stimulate the widest possible repertoire of natural behaviour.
2) Zoo Licensing legislation should be introduced that would require the State to inspect and licence wild animals in zoos, circuses, traders and those kept in private collections.
3) The zoo industry must have mandatory procedures for the humane disposal of any surplus animals which prohibits zoos or dealers passing on animals directly or through an intermediary to substandard zoos, research laboratories, private individuals or circuses.
4) The JAZGA guidelines should be updated and all zoos should be encouraged to raise their standards of accommodation and animal care to achieve the international standards set by EAZA,
5) The Japan Association for Zoological Gardens and Aquarium (JAZGA) and its accredited members should take active responsibility for improving the conditions of all zoological gardens, regardless of the membership status, This effort should include setting standards for zoos, teaching modern methods of maintaining captive wild animals, developing educational programmes and working with appropriate regulatory bodies and animal protection groups to ensure the proper care of animals in zoos.
6) Japan should have strict quarantine regulations for the isolation and testing for zoonotic diseases of all wildlife imported into the country - especially primates that need to be tested zoonotic diseases such as tuberculosis, ebola virus, B virus and salmonella.
7) There should be legislation and strict control with inspection of all wildlife animal dealers and traders to ensure that the animals they are keeping and transporting are handled in a humane manner.
8) There should be enforcement of article 13 of the Law for the Protection of Animals in respect of State prosecution and fines for cruelty to animals with the option to ban individuals from keeping animals.
A.Z.A Accreditation Standardization Guidelines Dec 1994
Broom D.M. 1991 Animal Welfare, Concepts and Measurement, Journal of Animal Science.
CAZPA 994 Standards for Animal Care and Housing
EAZA 1994 Standards for the accommodation and care of animals in zoos.
Lawrence & Rushen - Stereotypic Behaviour - CAB International
The Zoo Inquiry 1995 World Society for the Protection of Animals and Born Free Foundation.
Tufts University Centre for Animals 1995 discussion paper by Jennifer Lewis on wildlife conservation, zoos and animal protection.
Young.R.Dr Environmental Enrichment: Management and Devices- Edinburgh Zoo.
Zoo Licensing Act 1981 - HMSO U.K, Zoo Licensing Act 1988 - The Secretary of State's standards of modern zoo practice
Appendix A
Zoo: Enoshima Aquarium
Location : Sagami Bay, Japan
Inspection Date: 24 July 1996
Species Observed:
Pacific White Nosed Dolphins Bottlenose Dolphins False Killer Whales Grampus Hybrid Spotted Seals Stellar Sea Lion Northern Fur Seal South American Fur Seal South American Sea Lion Magellan Penguins California Sea Lions Oriental small clawed Otter Sea Otters Humboldt Penguins Southern Elephant Seal Loggerhead Turtles Aquarium Fish Jellyfish.
Accommodation
The Enoshima Aquarium was divided into three separate buildings - Marineland, Marine Zoo and Aquarium.
Marineland was the main arena and pool for the dolphin shows which were held seven times each day. The pool was about the size of a tennis court and 5.5 meters in depth at the deepest part. The false killer whales and the pacific whitesided dolphins were confined to small areas or the main pool,
Marine Zoo contained the sea lions and seals and there were six shows a day, These were housed in older enclosures that had rust corroded safety barriers and rusted interconnecting gates. The concrete was broken in places and needed rehabilitation.
The Magellan penguins were confined in a very small enclosure with insufficient water to allow them to swim and dive in a natural manner. The southern elephant seal was in a small enclosure.
The Aquarium had an exce11ent collection of jelly fish. In some of the exhibits on the lower floor there was overcrowding of fish for the size of the tanks i,e, cloudy dogfish, stingray, bullhead shark, bream, electric eel, carp, roach and giant eel,
There was also overcrowding of the six loggerheaded turtles in one tank,
Food & Drink
Fish were sold to the public for feeding to the seals and sealions.
The small clawed otters had no water or swimming,
Behaviour
There was begging behaviour from the seals and sealions for food.
The lack or space for some or the larger fish made natural swimming behaviour impossible.
The whales, dolphins and seals had been trained to perform circus tricks for the public shows, these shows were conducted with very loud music from the microphones which must have been disturbing to the dolphins as well as to the members or the public watching the show.
Animal Health
All the animals seen appeared to be in good health.
One the rescued californian sealions had damaged flippers.
Public Safety
There were good stand off safety barriers for the public outside the enclosures for all the dangerous animals.
However I was concerned to see children climbing up to lean over and touch the loggerhead turtles that can bite. I was also unhappy about the health risks of transmission of infectious organisms from the large fish tank that children were dipping in their hands and arms.
Education
There were signs outside each animal enclosure and other educationa1 information was displayed in Marineland and the Aquarium.
The Aquarium has published an excellent informative leaflet about its activities.
Conservation
This aquarium has been very successful in breeding various types of jellyfish. It has also been involved since 1988 in assisting with the rescue programme for the Baiji, the rare Chinese Yangtze river dolphin.
Additional Observations
This Aquarium is the oldest in Japan, It is in private ownership and the entrance fee is 1800 yen.
It is a member of JAZGA (Japan Zoo Aquarium Association) and IMATA (International Marine Animal Trainers Association).
Conclusions
The Marineland section is outdated and needs major reconstruction
VERDICT
This Aquarium would not have passed an inspection under the standards of the U.K. Zoo Licensing Act.
Recommendations
1. All Feeding of the animals by the public should be prohibited.
2. The number of dolphin and sealion shows should be reduced to avoid stress in the animals,
3. The overcrowding in the aquarium of the loggerheads and some of the other fish exhibits should be corrected.
4. The marine land section should be reconstructed with larger and more suitable enclosures.
Appendix B
Zoo: Himeji Zoo
Location : Himeji-city, Japan
Inspection Date: 28 July 1996
Species Observed:
Cranes Kangaroo Mute Swans Oryx Giraffe
Donkey Hairy Nosed Wombat Lion Pelican Magellanic Penguin
Tragopan Asian Elephant Trumpeter Ural Owls White Tailed Eagle
Tawny Eagle Grey Kangaroo Goats Squirrel Monkey
Old World Badger Red Fox Red Panda Japanese Brown Bear Caracal
Hippopotamus Reticulate Python
Caiman Crocodile Ruffed Lemur Japanese Macaque De Brazza Monkeys
Chimpanzees Parrots Flamingo Muntjac
Sea Lions Zebra Moufflon Sika Deer Tiger Brown Bear
Water Fowl Goaud Pheasants Budgerigars Brown Hawk Owl Caracara
Secretary Bird Wallaby Ducks Poultry Rhesus Monkey
Raccoon Dog Porcupine Polar Bear Black Panther Green Noded
Cory Boa Constrictor Iguana Suly Mangabey Striped Lemur
Savannah Monkeys Blue Monkeys Cockatoos Toucan.
Accommodation
Nearly all the enclosures at this zoo are too small, the accommodation is in rust corroded cages and on bare concrete. Examples of the very small enclosures are oryx, zebra, Moufflon, sika deer, tiger, lion, pelican, ural owls, grey kangaroos, squirrel monkeys, rhesus monkey, badger, raccoon dog, fox, black bear, japanese macaque, savannah monkey, de brazza monkey, blue monkeys and chimpanzees.
Many of the animals were in enclosures with no ability to retreat from the view of the public i.e. zebra, tiger, brown bears, brown hawk owl, ural owl, white tailed eagle, old world badger, raccoon do, red fox, porcupine, raccoon, caracal, black panther.
Most of the primate enclosures were barren with no environmental enrichment. There were no branches, ropes, swings or straw for the chimpanzees, japanese macaque, squirrel monkeys, rhesus monkeys, savannah monkeys, suly mangabey, de Brazza monkeys or blue monkeys.
Many of the other animals had bare concrete enclosures with no environment enrichment i,e. tigers, lion, bears, red panda, raccoon dog, red fox, porcupine.
There was no grazing for the deer, oryx. kangaroos, wallabies, zebra, giraffe.
Food & Drink
Feeding of the animals by the public was prohibited,
Some of the water drinking bowls were at floor level and were likely to get contaminated i.e. green noded cory, cockatoos, parrots, toucan and budgerigars.
The flamingo pool was too shallow.
Abnormal Behaviour
The polar bear was showing stereotypic pacing behaviour.
The two pelicans were harassing the other waterfowl in their enclosure.
Animal Health
All the animals seen appeared to be in good health except the polar bear which had sore places an its neck and paws that may be the result of self mutilation or being from stereotypic behaviour.
Public Safety
There were good stand off safety barriers for the public outside the enclosures for all the dangerous animals. There was a low perimeter fence surrounding the zoo.
Education
There were signs outside each animal enclosure that gave information about the species and its normal habitat.
There was a zoo brochure that was a map but gave no educational information about the animals on exhibit.
There was no member of staff responsibility for education and no education classroom for school children.
Conservation
This zoo had been involved in the successful breeding of the white eared pheasant but was not taking part in any international breeding programme of endangered species or release to the wild.
Additional Observations
The zoo was founded 1951 and is owned by the City of Himeji.
The entrance fee is 500 yen and the annual number of visitors is 400,000. It contained 130 Species and 430 specimens.
The zoo occupies 3 hectares in a National Heritage site in the Park. We were told by the Chief Administrator that became of the National Heritage site it was not possible to ever reconstruct or improve the accommodation and enclosures.
This zoo is a member of JAZGA.
Conclusions
Even though there may be difficulties in receiving permission to improve the buildings there is no excuse for the almost complete lack of environmental enrichment at this zoo.
An immediate improvement could be made by reducing the number of animals at the zoo and introducing environmental enrichment.
VERDICT
This zoo would have failed an inspection under the standards of the U K .Zoo Licensing Act.
Recommendations
1) This zoo should be relocated in a larger site where the animals can be housed in modem accommodation and larger enclosure.
2) There should be an immediate effort by the zoo to introduce environmental enrichment for the animals at this zoo.
3) In view of the small enclosures some of the animals could be dispersed elsewhere so that the remaining animals could have more space.
4) All animals should be able to retreat from the view of the public.
5) If this zoo is to provide a useful service to the local community it should provide better educational facilities for the school children.
Appendix C
Zoo: Japan Monkey Centre
Location: Inuyama-city Aichi, Japan
Inspection Date: 25 July 1996
Species Observed:
Siamang Capped Gibbon Ruffed Lemur Mandrill
Gelada Baboon Guinea Baboon Angolan Colobus Francois Lutong
Capped Langur Cotton Top Tamarin Weddell's Tamarin White Fronted
Marmoset Santerem Marmoset
Pygmy Marmoset Slow Loris Thick Tailed Galago Moustached Tamarin
Lesser Galago Common Squirrel Monkey
White Throated Capuchin Black Spider Monkey Barbary Ape Red Faced Monkey
Pig Tailed Monkey
Assamese Monkey Bonnet Monkey Crab Eating Monkey Moor Monkey Chimpanzee
Orang Utan Proboscis Monkey Black Handed Gibbon White Handed Gibbon
Langur Drill Yellow Baboon Patas Monkey Abyssinian Colobus
Silvered Leaf Monkey Purple Faced Langur Common Marmoset Red
Bellied Tamarin Red Headed Tamarin Potto
Lesser Slow Loris Douroucouli Goeldi's Marmoset Pale Headed Saki
Common Woolly Monkey Dusky Titi
Tufted Capuchin Long Haired Spider Monkey Japanese Monkey Tibetan Monkey
Rhesus Monkey Formosan Monkey Togue Monkey Lion Tailed Monkey
Black Ape Lowland Gorilla Patas Monkey.
Accommodation
The open enclosures were excellent with ample space for the primates to perform natural behaviour i.e. crab eating monkey enclosure, the islet of lemurs, patas monkeys and the spider monkey enclosure.
In other enclosures there was sufficient space but bare concrete with a lack of environmental enrichment i.e. straw or wood shavings on the floor, scatter feeding, ropes, swings and nets or the introduction of branches and playthings.
The enclosures for the lowland gorilla and the orang utan were too small.
Some of the animals had a lack of privacy as they could not retreat from the view of the public for example orang utan, gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills, baboons colobus, lutong and langurs and siamang.
Food & Drink
Feeding of the animals by the public was prohibited.
Behaviour
No examples of stereotypic behaviour was seen at the zoo.
Some stereotypic behaviour was seen at the smaller holding pens by the quarantine quarters.
The orang utan was a single species in a small enclosure with no environmental enrichment and appeared to have just switched off from the world.
Animal Health
All the animals seen appeared to be in good health.
Public Safety
There were good stand off safety barriers for the public outside the enclosures for all the dangerous animals except for the South American House where the tamarins and marmosets were in direct contact with the public.
There was also direct contact between the public at the crab eating monkeys free range enclosure but there were two zoo officials to try and prevent bite injuries to the public.
Education
There were excellent signs outside each animal enclosure that gave full information about the species and its normal habitat.
There was a Zoo brochure with very good educational printed material. There was a visitors centre which was full of stuffed animals.
There are three zoo staff involved in educational and there was a lecture theatre for 200 people which showed videos and films.
The zoo is the publisher of a world wide journal of primatology called PRIMATES.
Conservation
The main aim of this zoo seemed aimed at amassing a very large collection of different species of primates.
There is an indiscriminate breeding policy.
We were told that the zoo was not taking part in international breeding programmes for endangered species or in any rehabilitation and release programmes back into the wild.
Additional Observations
This zoo was established in 1956 and receives support from the Nagoya Railroad Company Ltd (Meitetsu) under the auspices of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.
It covers 50 hectares of Parkland where there is also a botanical gardens and amusement park. The admission fee is 1100 yen and the annual number of visitors was reported as300,000.
It has a quarantine centre away from the zoo and also some holding pens for surplus primates. These surplus primates will be sold to other zoos, dealers and also sold for research purposes.
This zoo has over 100 primate species and a total primate population of more than 900.
This zoo is a member of JAZGA.
Conclusions
This is a large primate collection with the majority of the enclosures constructed to a good standard. However, many of the enclosures lack modem environmental enrichment.
VERDICT
This zoo would have passed the standards set out by the U K. Zoo Licensing Act but subject to compliance with the following recommendations.
Recommendations
l) There should be control of the breeding of primates so that only the species wanted by other zoos are allowed to breed.
2) No surplus monkeys should be sold either directly or indirectly for research purposes.
3) There should be a general upgrading of enclosures for environmental enrichment.
4) The gorillas and orang utan need a larger enclosure.
5) All animals should be able to retreat from the view of the public and also to seek shelter from rain and shade from the sun.
6) Safety barriers should be erected in the South American house to protect the public from direct contact with the animals.
Appendix D
Zoo: Odawara zoo
Location : Odawara-city Japan
Inspection Date: 27 July 1996
Species Observed:
White Silky Fowl White Indian Peafowl Red Ibis Rabbits Coati Mundi Raccoon Civet Cat Patagonian Cavy Lion Japanese Macaque Squirrel Monkey Japanese Back Bear Poultry Pheasants Guinea Pigs Japanese Badger Raccoon Dog Turaco Sudan Crowned Crane Asian Elephant Flamingoes Budgerigars.
Accommodation
The new bird accommodation for budgerigars and the enclosure for japanese macaques have been constructed to an acceptable standard.
All the other enclosures and accommodation at this zoo are too small, the cages are of old fashioned design with rust corrosion and totally inadequate for the animals housed.
Most of these are just bare concrete and there has been no attempt at any environmental enrichment i.e. coati mundi, japanese badger, raccoon, raccoon dog, civet cat, bears, lion, elephant and patagonian cavy.
Some of the animals had no opportunity to retreat from the public view for privacy i.e, japanese macaque, bears.
Food & Drink
Feeding by the public was not permitted but on our visit we saw some members of the public feeding animals.
Some of the water drinking bowls for the birds were at floor level and were likely to get contaminated by bird droppings.
Behaviour
One of the bears was showing head rolling stereotypic behaviour. The japanese badger was showing pacing stereotypic behaviour.
The lion and asian elephant were single animals.
The bears and the elephants were begging for food from the public.
Animal Health
All the animals seen appeared to be in good health except for the 20 year old lion that was thin.
The bears had yellow faeces that we were told was due to an excess feeding of pumpkin.
Public Safety
There were good stand off safety barriers for the public outside the enclosures for all the dangerous animals.
There was no perimeter fence and this zoo was in a Park that was open to the public all night.
Education
There were signs outside each animal enclosure that gave the name of the species of animal.
There was a Park brochure but this gave very little educational information about the animals on exhibit.
Conservation
This zoo was not involved in any conservation or international breeding programmes for endangered species.
Additional Observations
This zoo was established in 1950 and is situated by the castle in the middle of Odawara Park. It is owned by the municipal authority. There is no entrance fee and it is staffed by six employees.
Conclusions
This is a very poor collection of animals in unsuitable conditions and closure is the best long term plan fm. this zoo. However there is a need for urgent improvements to be made in the short term to help the welfare of the existing animals.
VERDICT
This zoo would have failed an inspection under the standards required for the U K. Zoo Licensing Act.
Recommendations
l) This zoo should be closed.
2) Whilst the zoo stays open there should be an immediate improvement in environmental enrichment for the animals and advice sought from other zoo professionals on how this should be undertaken.
3) The old lion and the elephant (50 years old) should not be replaced when they die.
4) Some of the unsuitable animals should be transferred to other zoos for example: - flamingos and peafowl.
5) The zoo should cease to accept unwanted stray wildlife.
6) Feeding by the public should be strictly forbidden and this ban enforced by the staff
7) There should be a night security guard at the zoo.
Appendix E
Zoo: Pet Land
Location: Himeji-city, Japan
Inspection Date: 28 July 1996
Species Observed:
Cats and Kittens Albino Sika Deer Vulture
Raccoon Goats Japanese Monkeys Prairie Dogs Rabbits
Emu
Rhesus Monkey Llama Dogs and puppies Shetland Pony Caracara
Sheep Donkey Ducks Rabbits Ferret Ducklings Wallaby.
Accommodation
There were between 50 and 100 dogs and puppies at Pet Land. Most of the dogs were pedigree and varied in size according to their breed.
The accommodation for these dogs was in very small cramped metal rust corroded cages that varied between half to one meter in height, width and depth, without any shade from the sun.
There were between twenty and thirty cats and kittens which were also housed in very small cages abut 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 meters.
There were many japanese and rhesus monkeys housed in small rust corroded metal cages 1 x 1 x 1 meter in size.
There was a raccoon in a cage 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 meter with no shade.
The two emu were in an enclosure 3 x 4 x 4 meters.
There were six ducklings in a metal cage 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.3 meters.
There were nine sheep in an enclosure 10 x 5 meters.
There was a tethered ram without any shelter from the sun.
There were nine sheep in an area 10 x 5 meters.
The llama was in an enclosure 3 x 3 x 4 meters.
Food & Drink
Very few of these animals had drinking water bowls.
Behaviour
A number of the monkeys and raccoons were constantly circling in their cages in stereotypic fashion.
Animal Health
Three of the cats and kittens had a purulent conjunctivitis.
The sheep and goats were thin with bedraggled unsheared coats .
Public Safety
There were no stand off safety barriers for the protection of the public anywhere in this zoo.
Education
None of the animal enclosures had no signs to indicate the species of animal except for a very small number of cages which had some writing scrawled on the side,
There was no educational benefit to this zoo.
Conservation
There was no conservation of endangered species taking place at this zoo.
Additional Observations
This was a private zoo which was dependent on trading in animals.
The conditions that the animals were kept at this zoo were quite disgraceful and would have been the subject of a cruelty charge before the Courts in the U.K.
Conclusions
This zoo should be closed forthwith and the owners banned from trading in animals.
VERDICT
This zoo would have failed an inspection by the standards of the U.K. Zoo Licensing Act.
Recommendations
This zoo should be closed without delay.
Appendix F
ZOO: Shirotori Animal Land
Location : Shirotori-cho, Japan
Inspection Date: 26 July 1996
Species Observed:
Public Area:
8 Llamas 3 Zebra Oryx African Elephant 3
Baby bears 2 Parrots Hornbill Colobus Monkey Black Panther
Ferrets Leopard Cat Flying foxes Hedgehog Bears 2
Hippopotamus Turkeys Sheep 3 Caged Bears 8 Patagonian Cavys
5 Rhea 3 Leopards 6 Tigers Emu Ground Hornbill Dogs 14
Japanese monkeys 2 Reindeer 2 Shetland Pony Tapir Bactrian camel 2
Magpies Crow Mandrill Lemur Snow Leopard Prairie dog
Green Iguana Blue & yellow parrot
3 Chimpanzees Polar Bears Crane Egyptian Geese Goats
Capybara 2 Lynx 47 Sika Deer Panther Pelican
Cassowary 2 Foxes 3 Lion cubs Squirrel Monkeys.
Non Public Area:
2 Bactrian Camels Bear 6 Raccoons Ox 8 Japanese Monkeys 12 Ostrich Hyena Lion Tiger.
Accommodation
All the animals kept in this zoo were in very small accommodation and totally unsuitable enclosures on concrete floors or wire-mesh cages.
Some examples of the enclosures and cages in the public zoo are set our below: -
1) The 8 year old African elephant was chained all day with no shade or retreat from the public.
2) The two hippopotamus were in an enclosure 3 x 4 x 2 meters with no pool for swimming or water for drinking.
3) The polar bear was in an enclosure 3 x 3 x 2 meters with no pool.
4) The three chimpanzees were in a rusted wire cage3 x 3 x 4meters.
5) One enclosure contained 28 sheep and goats and this measured 6 x 6 x 4 meters in size.
6) Three bears were in individual rust corroded cages with metal bars as a base and these cages measured 1 x 2 x 2 meters.
7) The capybara was in a cage that was 1.5 x 2 x 2 meters.
8) Two lynx were together in a cage 1.5 x 1.5 x 2 meters.
9) Three baby bears were attached to posts by collar and short leads so that the public could play with them.
10) There was a group of very small cages placed on the concrete path close to each other that contained the ferrets, prairie dogs, hawk, foxes, tortoise, parrot, leopard cat, green iguana and hedgehog.
11) There was a group of fourteen japanese monkeys in cage that measured 3 x 3 x 4 meters.
12) Three lion cubs were in a cage that measured 1 x 2 x 1 meters.
13) In one pen there were 36 Sika deer that measured 10 x 5 x 3 meters.
14) Three of the tigers were in old wooden cages that measured 2 x 2 x 1 meters.
15) There was a leopard in a metal cage 1 x 2 x 1 meters.
There were many small monkeys in metal cages that measured 1 x 1 x 1 meters in size.
In the non public area the housing conditions were even worse and most of the animals were in travelling crates where they could not even turn around.
a) A lion and a tiger each had a metal cage that measured 1.5 x 3 x 1 meter.
b) The ox was in a travelling crate that measured 1.5 x3 x 3 meters.
c) The hyena was in metal cage that measured 2 x 3 x 1 meters.
d) The six raccoons were in a metal cage that measured 2 x 2 x 2 meters.
e) The eight japanese monkeys were in a cage that measured 2 x 2 x 2 meters.
In none of these cages or enclosures at the zoo or the non public area was there any environmental enrichment. The animals could not retreat from the public and often there was no escape from the sun.
Food & Drink
Some of the cages had no drinking water and where water was available it was often dirty.
The three young bears in small metal cages had a collection of rotting foodstuffs under their cages, where it fallen through the bars and many flies were swarming around this rotten food.
Behaviour
As would be expected where animals are kept in these cramped conditions there were many examples of stereotypic behaviour: -
a) The two reindeer and a llama were showing advanced stereotypic pacing behaviour,
b) The african elephant was head weaving and swaying,
c) The black panther and the two bears were showing pacing stereotypic behaviour.
d) The polar bear was showing head shaking and pacing stereotypic behaviour,
e) The Bactrian camel had swaying and leg changing stereotypic behaviour,
f) The ox in the travelling crate was showing rocking stereotypic behaviour.
Some of the animals in the main zoo could not be observed because of the darkness of the enclosure. We were prevented from viewing the animals very closely in the non public area.
Animal Health
Some of the sheep and goats appeared to be thin and weak.
There were four newborn sika deer that appeared weak and were unlikely to survive the crush of the 43 adults that shared the same small pen,
One of the young llamas had an open wound on its shoulder.
The 14 japanese monkeys were all affected with a skin condition and loss of hair.
Some of the pens had a collection of faeces and food material i.e. rheas and bears.
Public Safety
It was possible for the public to approach the three baby bears and a number of the monkeys that were tethered to trees and posts around the zoo.
There were no safety barriers for the llamas, hippopotamus, or pen of japanese monkeys or many of the animals in small metal cages and crates.
Education
There were no signs at any of the enclosures anywhere in the zoo that indicated the species of the animals.
Conservation
There was no suggestion that this zoo was involved in any endangered species breeding programme though in did keep a number of Appendix 1 & 11 CITES animals.
Additional Observations
This is a private zoo, owned by Mr Matsumura and was established in 1983, Mr Matsumura is an ex-animal trainer and each day there is a public show for dogs and also a tiger show.
The zoo has 20,000 visitors each year. The entry fee was 1200 yen. It would appear that the bulk of the income for this zoo is derived from trading and dealing in wildlife, although Mr Matsumura does not have a licence to trade in wild animals.
Conclusions
The animals at this zoo are kept in the most appalling conditions and every attempt should be made to close this zoo and distribute the animals elsewhere as soon as possible.
VERDICT
This zoo would have failed an inspection under the standards of the U.K. Zoo Licensing Act.
Furthermore, in the U K., charges for cruelty to animals would be brought against the owner and I would expect the courts to severely punish him and he would also be banned from keeping animals for the rest of his life.
Recommendations
l). This zoo should be closed.
2) Mr Matsumura should not be allowed to continue to trade in wild animals.
Appendix G
ZOO: Tennoji Zoo
Location: Osaka, Japan
Inspection Date: 27 July 1996
Species Observed:
Chimpanzees Black Capped Capuchin Pig Tailed Macaque
Savannah Monkeys Patas Monkey Fallow Deer Drill Hamadryas Baboon
Asian Elephants Spectacled Bear Malayan Sun Bear Water Fowl
Japanese Monkey Pelicans
Black Buck Canada Geese Red Kangaroo Llamas Humboldt Penguin
Nutria Red Panda Rabbits Leopard Puma Bobcat Asian
Golden Cat Palm Civet Black Jackal Chinese Wolf Lions Tigers
Black Kite Andean Condor
Crested Caracara American Kestrel Sheep Ostrich Cassowary
Parrots Green Jay Keel Billed Toucan
Greater Spotted Woodpecker Red Turtle Dove Sunbird Rhinoceros Hornbill
Orang Utan Crab Eating Macaque
Lion Tailed Macaque De Brazza's Monkey Japanese Sika Deer Francois
Langur Mandrill Koala Bear Giraffe
Japanese Black Bear European White Stork Polar Bear Californian Sealions
Eland Muntjac Mute Swan
Eastern Grey Kangaroo Bactrian Camels Grey Squirrel Prevost's Squirrel
Black Rhinoceros Barbary Sheep Jaguar Clouded Leopard Caracal
Small Indian Civet Masked Palm Civet Coyote Striped Hyena
Zebra Golden Eagle
Turkey Vulture White Tailed Sea Eagle Peregrine Falcon Takara Goat
Rhea Emu Crested Cockatoo Scarlet Macaws Java Hill Mynah
Orange Weaver Great Indian Hornbill Hippopotamus Eagle Owl
Snowy Owl Laughing Kookaburra Pheasant Great Grey Owl Ural Owl
Guinea Fowl Partridge.
Accommodation
There were some very good enclosures at this zoo which provided space and allowed the animals to be in a seminatural setting i.e. enclosures for chimpanzees, koala bears, free flight bird cages with white stork, japanese monkeys, californian sea lions, lion, tiger, andean condor, hornbills and red panda.
However there were some barren enclosures such as those for llamas, bactrian camels, kangaroo, jackal, coyote, hyena that were too small and had no environmental enrichment.
Many or the animals on display could not retreat from the view or the public i,e, chimpanzees, orang utan, giraffe, polar bears, owls, leopards, caracal, lion and cubs, jackal, coyote, chinese wolf or striped hyena.
The barbary sheep and bactrian camels could not obtain shade from the sun.
There was a lack or environmental enrichment in some or the larger enclosures, painting pretty pictures or the jungle on the walls or the enclosures was or no help to the animals, For example the chimpanzees and orang utan were not active and needed more ropes, straw and playthings, the bears needed more logs and branches.
The deer, black buck, eland, giraffe, zebra, ostrich had no natural grazing,
Food & Drink
Feeding or the animals by the public was prohibited.
I was very pleased to see the successful use or water pools in many or the enclosures that were being well appreciated by the animals i.e. black rhinoceros, elephants, japanese monkeys etc.
Behaviour
One of the polar bears was showing pacing stereotypic behaviour. One of the japanese black bears was showing head rolling stereotypic behaviour.
I was concerned that although there were some large outside enclosures these were not always being fully utilised, for instance the red panda were shut inside. We were told that this was because it was thought to be too hot for them in the outside enclosure and that they would prefer the small air conditioned inside accommodation.
One of the chimpanzees and young was inside because it could not be integrated with the others. A lion and cubs and some of the tigers were also kept inside.
Animal Health
All the animals seen appeared to be in good health.
Public Safety
There were good stand off safety barriers for the public outside the enclosures for all the dangerous animals. However there was direct contact between the pubic and the bird house with mynahs, toucan and jays.
The zoo had a high perimeter fence.
Education
There were signs outside each animal enclosure that gave information about the species. There was good educational displays for the koala bear and white stork and some other species around the zoo.
There was a Park brochure but this gave very little educational information about the animals on exhibit.
This zoo did not have an educational officer but the keepers took it in turns to guide school children round the zoo. There was a room that could be used for educational purposes.
Conservation
The zoo was not involved in international conservation breeding programmes but it had been successful in the breeding of the lion tailed macaque, black rhinoceros and white stork.
It was not involved any release programmes or field work.
Additional Observations
This zoo was founded in 1915 and is one of Japan's oldest zoos. It is owned by the City of Osaka and the entrance fee is 500 yen. There are about 2 million annual visitors.
This zoo is an active member of JAZGA. It has 90 staff of whom ten are veterinarians.
The old gorilla house is being rebuilt and future plans include a new hippopotamus enclosure but it is not intended to reintroduce gorillas back to the zoo.
Conclusions
This zoo is making great efforts to improve its enclosures and accommodation to bring it up to modern zoo standards. It has not yet fully understood how to introduce environmental enrichment into these enclosures for the benefit of the animals.
VERDICT
This zoo would have passed an inspection under the U K. Zoo Licensing Act subject to the recommendations set out below.
Recommendations
1) There is a need to increase the size of some of the smaller enclosures.
2) All the animals should have the opportunity of privacy from the view of the public and be able to move freely between the inside and outside enclosures.
3) Animals such as chimpanzees and lions should be kept in social groups so that they can all be in the outside enclosures during the daytime.
4) The zoo should consider appointing a full time educational officer and devise educational programmes for school children.
5) This zoo should be more involved with international conservation of endangered species breeding programmes.
6) There is a need for more consideration to be given by this zoo to learning and introducing modern ideas on environmental enrichment.
Appendix H
Zoo: Takarazuka Familyland
Location: Takarazuka City, Japan
Inspection Date : 29 July 1996
Species Observed:
Java Sparrow Pekin Robin Black Crowned Hight Heron
European Stork Mute Swans Water Fowl Japanese Macaque Chilean
Flamingo White Tigers Bengal Tiger Lion Coypu Red Kangaroos
Ducks Shetland Pony Goats Prairie Dogs Indian Elephant
Giraffe Californian Sealions King Penguins Humboldt Penguins
Polar Bear Hippopotamus Ural Owl Kinkajou Great Galago
Armadillo Flying Fox Night Monkey Toucan Red Handed
Tamarins Squirrel Monkey
Blue & Yellow Macaw Leopard Star Tortoise Red Panda Leopard
Rabbits Guinea Pigs White Handed Gibbon
Cotton Top Tamarin Red Bellied Tamarin Black Buck Sika Deer Eagle
Owl Andean Condor Raccoons Red Fox Raccoon Dog Eurasian Badger
Concolar Gibbon Silver Fox White Nosed Coati Silver Leafed
Monkey Hyrax Parrots Agouti Prevost's Squirrel Rainbow
Lorikeet Ring Tailed Lemur Common Marmoset Crested Crane Guinea
Fowl Peacock Suricate.
Accommodation
The enclosure for the red panda and the californian seal was good. The size of the majority of the other enclosures were of a minimal acceptable standard but some were too small i.e, crested cranes, indian elephant, lion and tigers.
There was not an opportunity for the animals to retreat from the view of the public in many of the enclosures i.e. tigers, giraffe, elephant, polar bear, andean condor, white handed gibbon, raccoons. red fox, silver fox, white nosed coati, silvered leaf monkey and ring tailed lemur.
Many of the enclosures were barren without any attempt at environmental enrichment i.e. white tiger, bengal tiger, lion, sika deer, black buck, red fox, red kangaroos and indian elephant.
The tigers needed a deeper swimming pool so that they could fully immerse themselves in water. The white tigers needed a high ledge so that they could lie and look downwards.
The barren concrete enclosure for japanese macaques would be much improved with a water pool for the monkeys to play in.
The black buck and sika deer were in a very small barren concrete enclosure without any natural grazing.
Food & Drink
Food was on sale for the animals and the public were encouraged to feed the elephant, the monkeys and animals at pets corner.
Behaviour
The single asian elephant was showing signs of stereotypic behaviour and mental disturbance.
One of the white tigers was showing pacing stereotypic behaviour.
All of the animals were subjected during the day to music and loud noise from the roller coaster and water slide which must have caused them considerable mental disturbance.
Animal Health
All the animals seen appeared to be in good health.
Public Safety
There were good stand off safety barriers for the public outside all the enclosures for the dangerous animals except for the pelican enclosure.
There was a high perimeter fence surrounding the zoo.
Education
There were signs outside each animal enclosure that gave only the name and no other information about the animal.
There was a 24 page guide book issued by the Park but it only had one side of a page with information about the animals and this was indicative of the importance that the Park attached to the zoo.
There was no member of staff responsible for education and no classroom.
There was a good educational display on the incubation and hatching of eggs and the raising of chicks.
Conservation
This zoo was not taking part in any international conservation or breeding programme for endangered species.
Additional Observations
This zoo was founded in 1911. It is owned by the Hankyu Railway Company.
The entry fee for the Park and Zoo is 1400 Yen and the annual number of visitors is 2,500,000.
There are eleven full time and nine part time members of staff including two full time veterinarians. This zoo is a member of JAZGA.
The whole of the amusement park is 16 hectares in size but the zoo will only extend for about two or three hectares. The rest of the Park is made up of the fun fair and amusement arcades including, monorail, roller coaster, balloon rides and water slides.
Conclusions
It is clear that the zoo is of relatively minor importance in relation to the amusement park. Two years ago a new very noisy water chute entertainment was built right through the zoo area alongside the elephant and other enclosures.
VERDICT
This zoo would not have passed an inspection under the standards of the U.K. Zoo Licensing Act.
Recommendations
1) It is not acceptable for this collection of animals to be in the middle of a noisy fun fair. Either the zoo or the funfair should be moved.
2) In the meantime the zoo staff should improve the environmental enrichment for the welfare of the animals.
3) The public should be prohibited from feeding the animals.
4) All of the animals should be able to retreat from the view of the public.
5) The zoo should consider whether they should continue to keep some animal species i.e. elephant, deer and tigers.
6) The zoo should provide an educational programme for visiting children.
Appendix I
Zoo: Ueno Zoo
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Inspection Date: 23 July 1996
Species Observed:
Pheasants Pigeons Giant Panda Ground Hornbill
Snowy Owl Malay Eagle Owl Kestrel Peregrine Falcon
Crested Hawk Eagle Black Kite Sumatran Tiger Gorilla Kingfisher
Chinese Pangolin Leopard Cat Red Crowned Crane Greater Sandbill Crane
Wattle Crane Avocet Redshank King Penguins Rock Hopper
Penguins Jackass Penguins Macaroni Penguins California Seals Kogu
Blue Eyed Starling Blue Crowned Pigeon Turaco Toucan
Laughing Kookaburra Polar Bear Japanese Black Bears Sun Bear
Hokkaido Brown Bear Wolverine Hammerkop
Cattle Egret Asian Elephant Japanese Macaque Tapir Rhea
Llamas Water Fowl Sika Deer Black Colobus
Ruffed Lemur Mandrill Black Handed Spider Monkey American Bison
Friesian Cow & Goats Black Tailed Prairie Dogs Shetland Pony & Sheep
American Beaver Ostrich Wallaby Emu Flying Squirrels
Prevost's Squirrel Common Tree Shrew Banded Mongoose Meerkat
Northern Night Monkey Spring Hare Bush Tailed Rat Kangaroo Fennec
Fox
Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel Long Eared Hedgehog Barbary Sheep
Currassow Grouse Brush Turkey White Pelican Wood Owl Goshawk
Stellar Sea Eagle King Vulture Bateleur American Condor
White Handed Gibbon Parrot
Asian Wild Dog Slow Loris Fruit Bats Demoiselle Crane White Necked
Crane Pygmy Hippopotamus Egyptian Geese Giraffe Flamingo White Ibis
Sacred Ibis Crocodile Giant Iguana Cotton Top Tamarins
Hippopotamus White Rhinoceros Zebra Tortoise & Turtles
Scarlet Ibis Orang Utan Monitor Lizard Python.
Accommodation
The enclosures at the zoo were a mixture of good, mediocre and poor.
The good enclosures were those that had recently been built for the tigers, gorillas, the Asian wild dog, fruit bats, Japanese macaque and many of the larger enclosures for birds.
The enclosures that were too small for the animal species were orang utan, tortoises, turtles, crocodile, banded mongoose, hedgehog, white pelican, cranes, rhea, sika deer, american bison, ostrich, wallaby and two toed sloth.
There was no natural grazing for the giraffe, zebra, sika deer or american bison.
There was a lack of environmental enrichment for the orang utan, bears, fennec fox, banded mongoose and hedgehog.
There was no retreat for privacy from the public view for the malay eagle owl, snowy owl, polar bears, japanese black bears, hokkaido brown bears, sun bear, pygmy hippopotamus.
The elephant house was of very old fashioned construction which provided a small limited enclosures of bare concrete.
In the pets corner, the shetland ponies and sheep had no shelter from the rain.
Food & Drink
Feeding of the animals by the public was prohibited and there were notices informing the public, however some feeding was taking place and the sun bear was begging for food.
Behaviour
The hedgehog and the banded mongoose were showing pacing stereotypic behaviour.
Public Safety
No stereotypic behaviour was seen at the time of my visit in the polar bears.
Animal Health
All the animals seen appeared to be in good health.
There were good childproof stand off safety barriers for the public outside the enclosures for all the dangerous animals.
The zoo was surrounded a perimeter fence.
Education
There were excellent signs and notices outside each animal enclosure that gave full information about the species and its normal habitat.
Some of the exhibits like the gorilla and the panda had a lot of additional educational material on display with video transmissions for the public.
There was a zoo brochure with a map and another brochure which set out the stock plan and category of endangered species.
There was an active educational dependent and a number of rooms which were used for teaching the schoolchildren about the animals.
Conservation
This zoo was taking part in the international breeding programmes of a number of endangered species such as the giant panda, the Japanese red crowned crane and the gorillas.
There was no direct involvement by this zoo in any overseas rehabilitation or release schemes back into the wild.
Additional Observations
The zoo was founded in 1882. It is owned by Tokyo metropolitan authority and contains 340 species and 1845 specimens. Entrance fee for adults is 500 yen. The annual number of visitors is approximately 4,000,000.
The total number of staff is about 100 with five full time veterinarians and ten persons dealing with education and public relations. The zoo is a member of the Japan Zoo and Aquarium Association.
Conclusions
This zoo has clearly made great efforts to modernise the accommodation and enclosures and should be encouraged to continue with this progress to achieve larger and more natural enclosures for all the animals.
This could mean that certain species like ungulates and other grazing animals are not suitable for a city zoo of this size which cannot provide any pasture for grazing.
VERDICT
This zoo would have passed an inspection under the standards of the U.K. Zoo Licensing Act subject to the following recommendations.
Recommendations
1) The old fashioned and smaller enclosures should be reconstructed to provide more modem facilities and space for the animals especially, elephants, reptile house and orang utan.
2) Consideration should be given to reducing the number of species within the zoo particularly those that are natural grazing animals deer, bison, zebra, ostrich, rhea, giraffe, llamas, ostrich and wallabies.
3) More consideration should be given to environmental enrichment in some of the enclosures i.e. fennec fox, hedgehog, banded mongoose, bears and orang utan.
4) A covered shelter from the rain should be provided in pets comer for the shetland ponies and sheep.
Appendix J
Zoo: Yosikawa Shokai, (Dealer in Wild Animals)
Location: Ono City, Japan
Inspection Date: 28th July 1996.
Species Observed:
Bactrian Camel Zebra Japanese Monkeys Deer
Ostrich Secretary Bird Leopard Striped Hyena Raccoons
Baboons Goats Sika Deer Patagonian Cavy Llama Shetland Pony
Leopard Shell Tortoise Capybara Caracal Lion Bear
Jungle Cats Sheep Emu.
Accommodation
All the animals we saw at this dealer's premises were kept in very small enclosures, pens and metal cages, For example:-
The zebra was in a pen 2 x 2 x 3 meters.
The llama was in a pen 2 x 2 x3 meters.
On the site there were about fifty rust corroded metal cages approximately 1 x 1 x 1 meters containing primates.
14 Japanese macaques were in a cage that was 2 x 2 x 2 meters.
A young1ion was in cage 1.5 x 1.5 x 3 meters.
The bear was in a cage 1.5 x 1.5 x 3 meters.
The striped hyenas were both in cages 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 meters.
The caracal was in a cage 1 x 2 x 2 meters.
There were raccoons in cages 0.75 x 0.75 x 0.75 meters.
3 adult baboons with one baby were in a cage 1 x 2 x 3 meters.
The cages were of rust corrode metal with metal wire or bars as the base of the cage. Many of these cages were in the open with no protection from the sun or rain.
Food & Drink
Many of the animals had no drinking water.
Behaviour
The deer in its own pen, many of the japanese monkeys, the bear and raccoons were all showing stereotypic behaviour .
Many of the animals were very nervous and frightened.
Animal Health
At the time of our visit it was a very hot day and the metal cages were in the sun causing distress and signs of heat stroke to those animals in cages in the sun.
A dead raccoon had been thrown into the rubbish tip by the entrance.
Under the circumstances of our visit it was not possible to make a close veterinary examination of their health.
Public Safety
There were no stand off safety barriers outside any of the cages or enclosures but this was not a zoo for viewing by the public.
Additional Observations
The premises that we visited belonged to one of the largest animal dealers in Japan. He was a registered dealer.
Conclusions
The conditions that the animals were kept at this dealer were very bad and totally unacceptable for the keeping of wild animals.
Recommendations
Legislation should be introduced for all wild animal dealers to be subject to inspection and only registered if they can provide proper facilities for the keeping of wild animals.