Asahiyama Zoo
Asahiyama Zoo is the northernmost zoo in Japan. It is located in Asahikawa, the second largest city in Hokkaido with a population of 360,000.
The zoo keeps about 400 animals and birds of 200 species, including polar bears, penguins, and spotted seals. The zoo was established in 1967. At first the number of visitors rose as the city grew, and the zoo was in financially sound condition.
But in 1994 some animals died of echinococcus disease, and the zoo had to be closed for almost an entire season.
After that incident, the number of visitors declined and the city considered closing the zoo.
But in 1997, the zoo undertook a project to construct unique interactive animal viewing facilities. As a result, visitors can now see birds flying freely in a huge cage at Totori Village, for example. At the penguin acquarium, visitors can walk through a glass tunnel looking at penguins gliding through the water.
At the seal acquarium, a vertical tube was installed for the seals to swim through. Those facilities enable visitors to see the animals’ natural behaviors up close. Many visitors were fascinated with the new exhibits. News of the changes spread by word of mouth and the number of visitors increased until a record 3 million people visited the zoo in 2007. The story of the struggle and the success of Asahikawa Zoo attracted the attention of the media, and many TV dramas and movies have been made based on true stories told by zookeepers there.
< Lake Toya ｜Kitaichi Glassware Shop >
People who viewed this page, also viewed:
