The topic of zoos is one that may be extraordinarily divisive at occasions. Many are crucial of them for turning animals right into a sideshow moderately than being free to stay their lives naturally within the wild. Placing animals in cages takes away the dignity in accordance with some however there’s in fact a purpose zoos exist. That’s as a result of they’re standard and do give individuals the possibility to see and be taught concerning the animals. I can see it from each factors of view and really a lot sit on the fence in the case of deciding which camp I’m in!
Many Japanese zoos are managed by their native governments which suggests they’re very inexpensive if not simply down proper low cost! Nevertheless, the one which we went to at the beginning of the yr price 4-5 occasions greater than that. It was someplace I’d been conscious of for a very long time however was all the time postpone by the worth. This time, with out a lot else happening, we determined to chew the bullet and take a look at it out.
The zoo in query was Izu Shaboten Zoo in Shizuoka Prefecture, and it’s situated throughout the highway from the gorgeous conical-shaped Mount Omuro which we’ve visited a number of occasions through the years. Having first taken the chairlift up the mountain our ticket gave us a 200 yen low cost on the zoo entrance thereby taking it down to only 2600 ($17) per individual!
Round 50 various kinds of animals are current at this zoo with the main target being on the small to medium sized ones so there aren’t any elephants, giraffes, lions or tigers on present though it appears that evidently might change sooner or later. Meerkats and pygmy goats have been the primary animals we encountered with a few the latter having climbed up on to one of many cages. Possibly they only wished to look down on us guests!
One of many issues that I used to be most enthusiastic about seeing was the capybara onsen, and it didn’t take too lengthy in any respect to come across this attraction.
This was our first time to rise up shut to those super-cute enormous rodents since we went to a capybara cafe in Kanagawa a number of years in the past. While it wasn’t as intimate this time we did get to see them stress-free in a scorching spring tub.
Once they weren’t soaking within the baths they have been simply freely roaming across the enclosed space or chilling within the gravel-sand backyard of types.
It’s not simply the animals that are the attraction at this zoo has one thing of a Mexican theme. Not solely is there shaboten (cactus) within the title of the zoo however there are additionally varied different issues together with an enormous stone sundial and big head statue.
One huge plus level for us going to this zoo was that canines are allowed to enter (so long as they’re in some type of carry-case or bag) which could be very uncommon in Japan. Our canine was curious on the sight (and positively the smells!) of some animals like llamas, tapirs, porcupines, prairie canines and so forth.
It ought to go with out saying that with a reputation like Tokyo Fox I’d have an interest to see the fennec foxes. My spouse thinks they’re barely comparable in look and mannerisms to our chihuahua however I’m nonetheless not so certain!
The fowl paradise part was extra fascinating than I anticipated and it was beautiful to see the varied cranes, flamingoes and terns in as pretty a pure habitat as you will get in a zoo!
Folks don’t are inclined to go to zoos to see home animals however certainly one of my highlights was seeing this positively huge rabbit.
This big monster is a kaiju (monster) from Ultraman which might nearly be seen from the highest of the mountain over the highway, and is definitely what introduced this zoo to my consideration a few years in the past once I noticed one thing about it in a Japanese journal.
It was a reasonably prolonged wait to see Meixiang the crimson panda’s face however properly value it. I believe I really want these to the extra well-known panda bears. They is probably not carefully associated however (be at liberty to accuse me of being woke!) in Japan these these fantastic animals are often called the lesser panda which does appear a bit degrading.
There was simply sufficient time to see the chimpanzee island, and although it (they? I may solely see one!) had a ot of area it did appear fairly lonely. Quite that although than having a load of us guests watching it in a extra cramped area.
There was far more happening at this zoo than I’ve talked about on this publish reminiscent of workshops, greenhouses, feeding periods, exhibits, photograph alternatives, device displays, rocks, meals distributors, eating places, memento outlets and the cactus vegetation which give the park its title. We didn’t get spherical all of it however we left immensely happy with our expertise at this pretty distinctive and vastly standard zoo.
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