We have donated Golden Eagle—to support a reintroduction trial into the wild.

Tama Zoo is pleased to announce that it has transferred Golden Eagle (Japanese Japanese Golden Eagle subspecies) to the "Minamisanriku Region Golden Eagle Habitat Restoration Project Council," which has been certified by the Ministry of the Environment as part of its Golden Eagle protection and breeding project, for experimental release. If this project succeeds in reintroducing Golden Eagle eagles into the wild, it will be the first such initiative in Japan.

Transferred Golden Eagle

background

Since our first successful breeding of Golden Eagle in 1998, our zoo has continued to breed them for generations, contributing to the maintenance of captive populations in Japan for approximately 30 years. In November 2025, following a decision by the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Biodiversity Committee's Japanese Golden Eagle Project Promotion Council, we will transfer Golden Eagle to the "Minamisanriku Region Golden Eagle Eagle Habitat Restoration Project Council" (*1) for experimental release, and cooperate in habitat conservation activities.

This project will be carried out using "hacking techniques" (*2) already established in Europe and elsewhere, and since it is necessary to use young birds before they fledge, three pairs were prepared in three breeding cages within the park for the breeding season from winter 2025 to the following spring. From surveillance camera footage, it was confirmed that one of the pairs laid an egg on February 7th. The pair subsequently laid another egg, but only one hatched on March 20th. Footage also showed the parents feeding the chick mouth-to-mouth, and on May 6th, the chick was able to forage for food brought by its parents on its own, confirming that it was growing well. Therefore, on May 16th, this individual was transferred to the council.

Currently, the council is training the bird to acclimate it to the wild in a hacking hut located in the mountains of the Minamisanriku region, and plans to release it when it is ready to fledge.