Have a good trip, Bastet, welcome, Zraya
October 2, 2026
In June of this year (2026), a Cheetah transfer took place between Tama Zoo and Chiba City Zoological Park. This was based on the Cheetah management plan of Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums of Zoos and Aquariums.
The turtle being moved to Chiba City Zoological Park this time is "Bastet" (female, born August 25, 2018). Tama Zoo had been raising and exhibiting her for the past three years, but since this did not result in breeding, she was moved to a different mate in order to try breeding again. On the day of the transfer, thanks to the training that had been done in advance, the transfer to the transport crate was completed smoothly, and we were able to send her off as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, the zoo's new arrival was "Zuraya" (female, born May 27, 2016). Zuraya also seemed calm in her new environment, smoothly moving from the transport crate into her sleeping area and accepting a small amount of food from the staff.
There was something slightly different about this trip compared to usual. That was the fact that we conducted a pre-trip quarantine to reduce the stress on the two animals.
When moving animals to another location, a "quarantine" process is conducted to check the individual's health, the presence of pathogens, and whether the destination meets hygiene standards. Since these tests are usually performed after the move, the animals had to spend about one to two weeks in isolated places such as sleeping quarters until their health could be checked.
However, thanks to the cooperation of Chiba City Zoological Park, a fecal examination was conducted in advance, and no abnormalities were found. Furthermore, the animal remained calm and in good health after the move, so the quarantine was completed the day after its arrival, and Zuraya was able to be moved to the large outdoor exhibit area.
Two days later, Zuraya was reunited with her daughter, Carolina (female, born June 8, 2021). When the two were introduced through the bars, they neither approached each other nor threatened one another... It seemed that even though they were mother and daughter, the two independent Cheetah maintained a certain distance from each other.
Cheetah in the wild currently face a variety of problems, including habitat loss and fragmentation, a decline in their prey, and conflicts with humans. Transfers between zoos, like this one, are an important initiative for zoos to conserve Cheetah, aiming to maintain breeding and genetic diversity by sharing information about the individuals kept at each zoo.
The transfer of these two cheetahs is part of this collaboration. Furthermore, raising awareness about Cheetah through their care and breeding at zoos, and fostering interest in protecting wild Cheetah, is one of the important roles that zoos play.
When you visit the park, please take the time to carefully observe their behavior. We hope that learning about their actions and subtle changes will help you learn about Cheetah and spark your interest in them.
[Tama Zoo]