Tama Zoo currently houses two Water Buffalo: "Maru" (female, born in 2013) and "Kokichi" (male, born in 2018) (please see here for information on the arrival of the two animals).

This time, we'll be discussing the taming of Water Buffalo. In zoos, taming refers to the process of getting animals accustomed to objects and people.


The scene of "Maru" being led by a cow.
The photo above shows a cow being led. A cow is led by a rope attached to a string at its nose. When leading a cow, the handler checks for injuries or abnormalities by looking at and touching its body up close. Because the handler can touch the cow directly, any abnormalities can be detected very quickly.

When they first arrived at the zoo, we started with practicing walking them around the enclosure on a leash. Once the two of them got used to being led, we moved on to the next step: practicing entering rooms that weren't normally used. This was practice for the purpose of weighing them.

Maru entered the room without any fuss, but Kokichi stopped in front of the door and refused to go in. So, we adjusted to Kokichi's pace and gradually increased the distance we went each time we were getting him used to the room. At first, Kokichi was reluctant to enter the room, but now he goes in smoothly.

Currently, Kokichi is practicing walking on a board used for weighing himself, which has been placed in his room. To have his weight measured, he has to stay still on the board. Kokichi's current goal is to be able to stay on the board without being afraid of it.

Meanwhile, Maru has started practicing for ultrasound examinations. This is part of her health management and in preparation for potential pregnancy. For the ultrasound, she is tied to a fence in a room and examined by the veterinarian. Because gel and equipment are used during the examination, Maru is wary of the unfamiliar tools and their textures, making it difficult to perform the examination smoothly. It looks like it will take some time before the examination can proceed smoothly.

When conducting this type of training, we reward the two dogs to keep their motivation up. For example, rolled oats, which they both like to eat.

We will continue the training process and strive to maintain the health of both dogs. Please come and meet Maru and Kokichi.

[Tama Zoo Tama Zoological Park]

(September 16, 2022)
(April 13, 2023: Corrected Maru's birth year)