Inokashira Park Zoo keeps one Japanese Hare.

The Japanese Hare is an endemic species that has lived in Japan since ancient times. As its name suggests, it lives in the mountains and fields of Japan and lives a solitary life. It is nocturnal and hides during the day at the base of trees, in the shade of rocks, or in bushes. It does not dig burrows and escapes from predators by running at speeds of up to 80 km/h. For this reason, it has long, strong hind legs and brown fur that blends in with its surroundings.

Furthermore, those living in colder regions have fur that turns white in winter, making them less conspicuous in the snow. Those living in warmer regions retain their brown fur even in winter. There are also some that fall somewhere in between, with parts of their fur turning white.

The individual being kept at Inokashira Park Zoo is a female born at the zoo and will be 15 years old this year. Because she originally comes from a warm region, her fur color does not change and remains brown all year round.


Japanese Hare eating green grass (photographed on January 17, 2025)
The lifespan of a wild rabbit is said to be 2 to 5 years in the wild and about 10 years in captivity, so this is a remarkably long life. Grandma rabbit lives at her own pace, choosing her favorite spot in her familiar exercise area. She seems to feel particularly safe in the hut in one corner, and spends most of her daytime resting there.


A hut where I spend most of my daytime hours
While some visitors may not be able to find them when they are still and seem to disappear, in the early morning and evening you can see them walking around the exercise area, eating the grass and pellets they are given, and going to their designated spots to relieve themselves. When we see them doing that, it makes us happy as zookeepers to think, "They're still full of energy!"

She may not be very noticeable, but please take a moment to quietly observe how the grandmother hare lives. Also, during seasons with extreme heat or cold, we sometimes move her to an air-conditioned room. In that case, you won't be able to see her, so please understand.

[Inokashira Park Zoo]

(February 18, 2025)