Are you familiar with the bird called the goose? Geese belong to the same order as ducks, Anseriformes, but they are larger than ducks and have longer necks and legs. For example, Domestic Duck are a type of duck, while geese are a type of goose. In Japan, they are migratory birds that arrive in winter and mainly feed on grass and seeds near water.

Tama Zoo exhibits 12 different species of geese in various locations throughout the park, and also engages in the breeding and rearing of geese at the stork exhibit next to the "Tamago Picnic Area." This time, we'd like to introduce the three Snow Goose that were added to this exhibit last year.

On September 24, 2021, Snow Goose arrived at the zoo from Oshima Park. This Snow Goose had apparently flown to Izu Oshima as a juvenile in November 2020 and remained on the island without flying elsewhere. In August 2021, the Oshima branch office rescued it when it was in a weakened state, and it was temporarily kept at Oshima Park where it recovered. However, because it was deemed difficult to release it back into the wild, it was taken in by Tama Zoo which breeds Snow Goose. When we received the handover from the staff at Oshima Park, we were told that it was very popular on Oshima Island.

First, to allow the goose to adjust to its new enclosure, we decided not to immediately put it with the other geese, but to keep it alone in an adjacent cage. Once its daily feeding habits and weight stabilized, and it became acquainted with the other geese through the fence, we opened the partition door and waited for Snow Goose to come out of its cage on its own, and it joined the flock on November 29th.


Snow Goose that came from Oshima Park
In December, we moved one Snow Goose each from the walk-in birdcage and the brooding house to this cage. Snow Goose that came from the brooding house, born in 2021, does not yet have the pure white feathers of an adult, and still has gray feathers on its face, neck, and wings.

Snow Snow Goose moved from the walk-in bird cage	Snow Goose born in 2021, moved from the chick rearing house.

Currently, five snow Snow Goose are living together with other geese in the exhibit next to the "Tamago Picnic Area." Observations reveal that even among the geese, there seems to be a variety of personalities; some want to spend time together, while others prefer to keep their distance. The geese, including these three who have recently joined the group, are all living comfortably and freely.

[Tama Zoo]

(January 14, 2022)