April 19th is "Animal Care Day," a date chosen because the number 419 sounds like "shiiku" (meaning "animal care"). It was established in 2009 by Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) with the aim of promoting understanding of the role of zoos and aquariums. Since that year, Tokyo Metropolitan zoos and aquariums have been holding various events related to animal care.
Tama Zoo will be holding the event again this year, 2016, so please come and visit us. The event will mainly take place on April 16th (Saturday) and 17th (Sunday).

1. Animal Care Day Panel Exhibition – Come, See, and Learn animal keeper!

Date and time April 7th (Thursday) - May 10th (Tuesday), 2016
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

place Entrance inside Watching Center

Content
A major survey on the attitudes animal keeper!
We conducted a survey asking animal keeper about their daily thoughts and feelings towards animals. This is an interesting exhibit that offers insight into the unique worldview of animal keeper.

・A close look at the work of animal keeper
We will screen a video showing the work of animal keeper. It will introduce where animal keeper and what kind of tasks they perform every day.

Learn about the work to do on days when the park is closed.
We'll introduce some special jobs that can only be done on days when the zoo is closed, using photos and other visuals.

What kind of animal keeper you?
By answering the questions on the posted flowchart, you can find out what type of animal keeper you are, such as insect or herbivore caretaker.


Panel exhibition from last year (2015)

2. What animal am I in charge of?

animal keeper have specific responsibilities, such as caring for small animals like mice, large animals like elephants, herbivores, or animal keeper. Why not deepen your interest in animals by experiencing the various tasks of zookeepers?

Date and time Saturday, April 16th and Sunday, April 17th, 2016
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

place Animal Hall inside Watching Center

Content
- Experience cleaning up bean droppings
This event allows participants to experience cleaning up tiny, granular droppings (bean droppings), a task that even animal keeper struggle with.

Experience watching orangutans wind fire hoses.
This event offers the opportunity to experience making playground equipment using fire hoses, the kind orangutans use.

Try Lion 's Beef Bone Rice Ball
This is an interactive event where you can experience the weight of the cow bones that are given to Lion and feel like animal keeper by tying the bones together with chains.

Let's try blowing a veterinarian's blowgun.
You can experience the work of a veterinary hospital, something you don't often get to see. You can try using a blowgun, which veterinarians use as part of their treatment.


Let's try cleaning up bean droppings

3. Let's take a peek behind the scenes at the insectarium!

Insect care involves some unique tasks compared to other animal keeper. These are the behind-the-scenes jobs. To maintain the exhibits, we raise many insects and cultivate the animals and plants that serve as their food. This time, we are holding a special exhibition where you can take a look at the back areas of the insectarium.

Date: April 16th (Sat) and 17th (Sun), 2016
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Location: Part of the exhibition area in Insectarium Center and Insectarium.

4. Special Guide: "What do insect animal keeper do?"

3. "Let's take a peek behind the scenes of the insectarium!" This event will be held concurrently. Using a special exhibit that allows visitors to see a part of the behind-the-scenes work, each staff member will provide a special guided tour on the theme of "the work of animal keeper and the care of the animals."

Dates: April 16th (Sat) and 17th (Sun), 2016

Location: Part of the exhibition area in Insectarium Center and Insectarium.

*For details such as the time of the event, please refer to the flyers distributed in the park on the day of the event.

5. Zoo Kitchen Exploration Tour

You can take a tour of the kitchen where animal keeper prepare the animals' food. You might even get to see animal keeper actually making the food!

Date: April 16th (Sat) and 17th (Sun), 2016
Meeting time: 11:00 (Please be on time)
Time: 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM

Meeting place: In front of the Animal Hall inside Watching Center

Target audience: Elementary school students and older (elementary school students must be accompanied by a guardian)

Number of people: 20 people each day

*If there are many applicants, a lottery will be held on the spot.
*Please gather together with everyone who wishes to participate so we can get an accurate headcount.


Explore the zoo's kitchen!

*Events may be subject to change in location, time, or cancellation depending on the animals or the conditions within the park.


◎Related Pages
・ Ueno Zoo 's "Animal Care Day" event
・ Tokyo Sea Life Park 's "Aquarium Care Day" event
・ Inokashira Park Zoo 's "Animal Care Day" event

(March 24, 2016)