This link has some basic info on the zoo in English. Ueno is in in the north of Tokyo near a large station for trains to N.E. Japan. The park has museums and galleries as well as the zoo split into two sections. Here's a map The map is quite descriptive so I'll just talk about the highlights. The zoo had pandas when I visited, the enclosure isn't that interesting with a glass fronted tiled indoor area and a nicely planted but small outside enclosure. Red pandas are nearby. The Sumatran tigers and gorillas have the best enclosures which are aesthetically pleasing at least quite green and relatively densely planted with various viewing points. Certainly I remember with the gorillas you feel they aren't just plonked in front of you. Not sure about enrichment but compared with many zoo experiences in Japan, it's not bad as a zoo experience. Dholes are also here in a moated enclosure with a grotto-ish background which isn't huge but nicely planted and looks nice. There's a nocturnal house where I may or may not have seen a kiwi! Polar bears have a typical grotto but other bears have small but slightly more interesting enclosures than is the norm in Japan. The Asian elephant enclosure is unremarkable. The other half of the zoo has shoebill storks (first time I'd seen them) in a netted aviary next to flamingos. The African area here is a row of ungulate enclosures including okapi, zebra and barbary sheep in high-fenced pens, not very attractive. Possibly the most bizarre in appearance is the hippo enclosure - it looks like an old-style polar bear or seal enclosure, all concrete and swimming pool looking. There are steller's sea eagles on an island on a big lake which is interesting. Like Nagoya, Ueno feels like it has a lot of concrete and lots of wide open spaces. It isn't an awful place but just doesn't feel like a pleasant place to wander around, certainly no sense of immersion but perhaps the tiger and gorilla areas point towards the future.
The zoo has experienced the birth of a Black Rhinoceros. Your morning adorable: Black rhinoceros calf at Japan's Ueno Zoo | L.A. Unleashed | Los Angeles Times
I will be in Tokyo next may,of course I will visit some mor cities in japan to see some zoos and espeiclaly a few of the big aquriums. On my way home, I will do a stopover in taiwan for Taipeh Zoo and two aquariums. As far as I know, Ueno is keeping two species of tarisiers and chinese pangolin.
The zoo is to receive a pair of giant panda from China, after their last elderly animal died in 2008. washingtonpost.com
A face only a mother could love? Baby pygmy hippopotamus gets nuzzle from proud parent | Mail Online as might be guessed from the text there are photos on the link, and the baby hippo is very cute so worth a look
Asha the elephant has given birth to a female calf after mating with toyohashi's Dana. Ueno Zoo's Asian elephant gives birth at 34 - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
Excellent news, proving that sometimes we can expect ele births well away from the mid 20-25 age region!!!
Yes!! Ueno failed last year (5 hatched but all died). I really hope they would achieve success.......
Female Asian elephant AUTHI has been confirmed as pregnant. Tokyo's Ueno Zoo reports first Asian elephant pregnancy | The Japan Times
Born to parents Haoko x Momoko (34), her 5th offspring. Currently 8 individuals in total. Any more info on the other gorillas or their breeding stats?
Haoko group, living in 1st Enclosure, has 3 wives (Momoko, Toto & Nana) but Nana is hand-raised and has no mating behavior with Haoko. Toto has regularly, but has never become pregnant. I think Toto has some gynecology problem (Ueno doesn't seem to have ever investigated it). One more female named Piko (age 46), lives in 2nd enclosure alone.
