On July 22, 2014, at Inokashira Park Zoo 's "Animal Plaza," maintenance work was carried out under the scorching heat, so intense that even the animals sought refuge in the shade, while being encouraged by the sound of cicadas.

From spring to summer, the plaza becomes lush with plants and trees, appearing lively at first glance. However, upon closer inspection...the overgrown trees have grown to a height that makes it difficult for children to find wildlife. In addition, the grassy areas are overgrown with Sasa veitchii and Pennisetum alopecuroides, resulting in a monotonous flora.

"The Wildlife Plaza" is a place where people can enjoy encountering familiar creatures and learn about their wonders. In order to attract a diverse range of creatures, a diverse environment must be prepared. Therefore, it is necessary to remove undesirable plants, control plants that tend to grow excessively, and prune trees appropriately several times a year.

This day marked the first maintenance work of the year. Approximately 20 people, including staff and volunteers, participated. As a new initiative, we added the task of tilling and resting the "grasshopper field." It has been three years since the "Animal Plaza" opened, and during that time, the field has become firmly compacted, and only Pennisetum alopecuroides, which can grow even in hard soil, remains. In order to make it a lively field where various plants can grow again, we decided to till the hardened surface soil and give it a rest. However, doing everything by hand is hard work. We introduced a tiller to till some parts all at once.

Currently, the tilled field is being allowed to rest. Earthworms and pill bugs will gather in the softened topsoil, creating good soil. Then, various plants will grow again, and it will become a place where various creatures gather.

Please wait a while until you can enjoy "The Grasshopper Field" again.

Photo 1: Working with a Bitchu hoe.
Photo 2: Tilling with a tiller.
Photo 3: After tilling is complete

[Saori Furukawa, Education and Outreach Inokashira Park Zoo]