On the occasion of the 68th anniversary of the park's opening

On May 5, 2026, Tama Zoo celebrated its 68th anniversary.

During the Golden Week holidays from late April to early May this year, there were some chilly days with heavy rain in the first half to middle of the period. However, on sunny days, the park offers a pleasant and lush green environment. Seeing so many visitors enjoying the animal exhibits and the natural surroundings of the park is a great source of encouragement for the staff who run the park.

While our annual anniversary articles usually focus on anniversary events, this year's topic is "10 years since we first exhibited Tasmanian Devil in June 2016." In Japan, the first Tasmanian devil was exhibited at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka in 1984 and continued until 1991, and at Maruyama Zoo in Sapporo from 1988 to 1996, but currently, our zoo is the only one in Japan that keeps and exhibits Tasmanian Devil.

There are various cases regarding the process of bringing new animals into a zoo, but in the case of Tasmanian Devil, the process involved several years of work. In 2012, when I was the head of the animal care and exhibition department at our zoo, I had the opportunity to have a researcher of Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) give a lecture at the zoo for zoo staff and veterinary students. This led to a visit to Tasmania, Kawakawa the following year, where I met with local state government officials, conservation and education program organizers, and pathology researchers. I was transferred to Ueno Zoo in April 2014, but after several years of coordination between the zoo and local officials, Tasmanian Devil exhibit finally came to fruition in 2016.

We maintain excellent relationships with local organizations and stakeholders, and not only are we able to keep this species, whose lifespan is only about 5 years in the wild and 6-7 years in captivity, on display, but we also contribute to local conservation activities through public awareness events within the park. We have previously shared information about Tasmanian Devil conservation and the situation in the area through various opportunities, and this year we are planning to hold a 10th-anniversary event at the park. Once the details are finalized, we will announce them on our website and other channels, and we would be delighted if you could participate.

Now, comparing Tama Zoo when it opened in 1958 to the present day, several wild animal species, including the Japanese otter which was designated as an endangered species in 2012, have disappeared, and the number of species that have become rare due to declining populations has increased. Zoos need to work in cooperation with those involved in habitat conservation activities to ensure that biodiversity is not lost as much as possible even 100 years from now, by improving breeding and rearing management techniques based on bloodline management.

Furthermore, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has set key strategic goals focused on population management and conservation to be achieved by 2027 and 2030, and is advancing conservation activities and efforts to improve animal welfare for animals in captivity.

Tama Zoo will promote its projects in cooperation with these organizations and zoos both domestically and internationally, contributing to the conservation of the global environment. This year, in addition to Tasmanian Devil event, we plan to implement various projects such as the keeping and exhibition of wild animals, and to disseminate information about our wildlife conservation and research efforts through web articles and other means. We would be grateful for your support of our conservation activities.

Finally, this year, construction work will be carried out within the park, including the development of Crested Ibis exhibit zone next to the insect slope, installation of equipment, and tree felling. In order to maintain a safe environment within the park, some areas may be restricted in traffic, which may cause inconvenience to everyone, and we ask for your understanding and cooperation.

All of our staff look forward to your visit.

[Hirofumi Watanabe, Director of Tama Zoo]