Inokashira Park Zoo
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| Inokashira Park Zoo | |
|---|---|
 Inokashira Park Zoo | |
 Interactive map of Inokashira Park Zoo | |
| 35°42′03″N 139°34′22″E / 35.700833°N 139.57275°E | |
| Date opened | May 17, 1942 |
| Location | Musashino, Tokyo, Japan |
| Memberships | JAZA[1] |
| Website | www |
Inokashira Park Zoo (Japanese: いのかしらしぜんぶんかえん; Kanji: 井の頭自然文化園) is a city zoo in Musashino, Tokyo. It is in a corner of Inokashira Park near the Ghibli Museum. A branch of the zoo is in Mitaka. It opened on May 17, 1942.[2]
In September 1905, Shibusawa Eiichi borrowed a corner of Inokashira Gotenyama Garden from the imperial family and founded the Tokyo Maternity Hospital Conversion Division (later Inokashira School) to accommodate juvenile delinquents.[3] On May 1, 1917, the entire town was granted to Tokyo and Inokashira Park was opened. On May 5, 1934, "Nakanoshima small animal zoo" opened at the current branch location.[4]
In 1939, when the Inokashira school relocated, the plan to build a big zoo in this area was advanced. Initially it was conceived as "a big zoo" comparable to the Ueno Zoo, but due to the wartime budget and supplies shortage, large animals can not be gathered. The plan changed to a "nature observation park". It opened on May 17, 1942.[4]
Two giraffes were bred at the time of the opening, but both died by the end of the war.[4]
In the 1980s, the zoo experienced a surge of visitors when they received a pair of giant pandas.[5]
Overview
In 2006, to reduce the risk of breeding, the Ministry of the Environment moved some endangered Tsushima leopard cats to the zoo. Breeding restarted on February 22, 2008.[6][7]
It is divided into a main zoo in Gotenyama, Musashino and a branch location in Inokashira, Mitaka. In the main park, mainly mammals and birds are raised, and waterfowl are kept in the garden surrounded by Inokashira pond. Also, there is a cultural museum, where special exhibitions and lectures or meetings are held.[8] There was also a "tropical bird greenhouse", but on June 2, 2013, it closed due to its age.[9] There is an aquarium with fish and amphibians in the secondary park.
A sculpture garden is in one corner of the park with works by Seibo Kitamura.[10][11] In addition, a small amusement park (a merry-go round, teacups, train) is in another corner of the park.[12]
Animals
The zoo displays 170 animal species focusing on native species and a few exotic species.
- Main Park
- Barn owl
- Capybara
- Copper pheasant
- Crested porcupine
- Eurasian otter
- Fennec fox
- Guinea pig
- Humboldt penguin
- Japanese green woodpecker
- Japanese marten
- Japanese scops owl
- Japanese serow
- Japanese sparrowhawk
- Japanese squirrel
- Japanese wood pigeon
- Leopard cat
- Masked palm civet
- Meerkat
- Patagonian mara
- Rhesus macaque
- Ryukyu flying fox
- Sika deer
- Wild boar
- Aquatic Life Park
