Nagoya’s Higashiyama zoo (I think) has the most species in the country and in my view is one of the most depressing I've been to. Like Ueno and Tennoji its split in two and located in a public park. You enter through a big waste of space broad concrete plaza and some of the first animals you see are Indian rhino and Asian elephants in small concrete pens. Most of the enclosures cling to the side of this square which stretches through the zoo. Continuing on the right hand side of this plaza, there are small paddocks with ungulates including zebra, axis deer and bongo, a lion grotto and a hillside enclosure for Japanese serow which isn’t too bad compared with the rest of the zoo. Next to this there are Amur tigers in a small cage and a row of depressing pit-like bear enclosures which I think can be viewed from above or below. Dusty with practically no enrichment other than a few branches and rocks, they had I think, spectacled, Asian black, brown and sun bears. There are some scruffy dinosaur statues and a not very large but not tiny moated giraffe paddock with ostriches, maybe more species but I can’t remember exactly. The paddock is slightly raised and I think backs on to a cliff or stone rock face. There’s a corner with the obligatory koala house, aquatic birds and Somali wild ass in a pen, there’s a concrete beaver pool somewhere around here too. There’s a big boating lake with a childrens zoo in a far corner. Near the lake are camels, sea lions and polar bears (see report above for info on this depressing grotto). On the left hand side of the plaza there is a row of cages with small carnivores, kangaroos and capybara in concrete pens, gibbons in a cage and cats including snow leopards and Persian leopards. There is a paddock for Malayan tapirs here too and in the centre of the plaza a concrete (surprise surprise) round penguin pool. The other half of the zoo has African elephants in an enclosure larger than that for the Asians but still not very attractive. There are hippos with a horrible concrete house and a pool with only a concrete shelf as land area. There are pygmy hippos here too and black rhinos next door. There are monkeys nearby – including francois langurs. Chinese golden snub-nosed monkeys are in a relatively large aviary style enclosure but not very attractive. I remember they were quite distressed because people kept banging on the glass of the indoor enclosure. Birds of prey are nearby too. Gorillas, orang utans and chimpanzees are in moated grottos with indoor viewing, I didn’t really like this it was quite gloomy inside and the outdoor enclosures weren’t very inspiring. There are separate aquarium and reptile houses in this corner,as well a relatively spacious wolf wood and birds including cranes and flamingos. There’s also a botanic garden and funfair in the park. This zoo has the most concrete and metal of any I’ve been to although there are lots of trees which improve it slightly. I’m sure I’ve missed something; this review is based on my diaries and looking at a not very detailed zoo map.
The worlds oldest captive snow leopard has died at the zoo at the age of 21 years and 9 months. Big Cat News: Oldest captive snow leopard dies
Could you please post them in the gallery. I am curious as to what the exhibit looks like, most particularly because the male Shabani came from Taronga Zoo (although he was born at Apenheul).
@Jabiru. Sorry, I've stopped uploading personal private pictures in the internet. But I can tell you, the Gorilla enclosure at Nagoya Zoo is build in the same style as the Gorilla enclosure at Heidelberg Zoo or at Hannover Zoo ( the old one, before opening of the Gorilla mountain ) Its tiny, on three sides surrounded by the concrete walls of the ape house, in the front is a wide and deep concrete moat. The ground is grass, but no hiding places, no climbing trees, just a a little artifical rock and a wooden platform, thats all on structure. The inside exhibit is nothing special, too.
Here are a couple of links showing some pictures, no wide views but gives you an idea higashiyama zoo gorilla - Flickr: Search nagoya zoo gorilla - Flickr: Search
A video about penguins trying to catch a butterfly : Twee Pinguïns Zien Een Vlinder En Gaan Er Achteraan. CUTE!!!
I visited Higashiyama Zoo last week, as I was in Japan for a conference. Compared to Markun's review from 2008, I recognize the picture of a lot of metal and concrete. Some enclosures were very small, especially for the cats (I've uploaded a picture of the snow leopard enclosure). Those for the bears I didn't find as bad as he says, they had quite a lot of vegetation (which may have grown up in the time in between our visits). It sounds like one part of the zoo, the American corner, had been rebuild in the mean time, with new enclosures for bison, caribou, beavers and timber wolves. A part I liked a lot was the house with small mammals underneath the terrarium (which was also quite good, with lots of species). The small mammal part was mostly dark (not quite like a night zoo, but almost), and many of the animals were quite active. There were several I had not seen before (this was my first zoo visit in Asia). Another plus with the house was that it was air conditioned. It was about 27 degrees celcius the day I was there, and also very humid. To help the animals cope, many of the enclosures had either pools with water, or sprinklers with water that the animals could cool off in, which several of the seemed to enjoy. The polar bear and the penguins did not look so happy with the weather though.
Annebn, did you see the volcano rabbits Chapultepec zoo sent Nagoya zoo ? The animals Mexico city recieved in return have done quite well, in general. The red kangaroos are doing well, and the raccoons dogs have produced 2 litters of pups already. Only the penguins have had problems with the high altitude and have high mortality rate here.
No, I saw the volcano rabbit's enclosure, but the animals themselves were hiding, unfortunately. I've never seen them, so I was a bit annoyed.
About feeding the Giant anteaters and Fishing cats : Higashiyama Zoo denizens have to settle for food substitutions | The Japan Times
I wonder if there are any zoos that feed anteaters on only or mostly ants? What I've seen them eat has looked pretty much like the stuff in the picture. I would think fish for the cats would be easy enough to get in Japan though- although maybe they prefer freshwater fish?
A swan has tested positive for bird flu: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...umb-spreading-bird-flu-outbreak/#.WEf5pPmLTIU
Some building news in relation to the observations on small and concrete slab with lots of metal. Since August 2016, new digs are being built for chimpanzees and gorillas at Higashiyama Zoo. The vision for the new Great Ape building and exhibitry is the Forests of Tanzania (the zoo recently went on a study tour of Tanzanian rain forests with chimps). Link: 東山動植物園公式ブログ「ひがしやまちょっとe〜話」
I noticed him (or another very human sounding one) when I was at the zoo in 2015. I have never heard anything like it! But then, I haven't seen a Siamang before either, so I thought they probably all sounded like that.
