On May 2, 2021, two Water Buffalo (one male and one female) arrived at Tama Zoo from Yubu Island in Taketomi Town, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture (Iriomote Island).

The two cubs retained their names from when they were raised on Yubu Island: the male is named "Kokichi" (2 years old) and the female is named "Maru" (8 years old). Kokichi is still small and has a youthful appearance. Maru is an adult who has given birth before.

"Kokichi" (foreground) and "Maru" (background) inside the transport vehicle. After a long journey, we arrived at the park.	Scenes inside Water Buffalo enclosure

In December 2015, our last remaining water buffalo died, and we temporarily suspended Water Buffalo exhibit (see here for the announcement regarding its death). During that time, in conjunction with the construction of the new Asian Elephant enclosure, we also renovated the adjacent Water Buffalo enclosure and made preparations for introducing new Water Buffalo.

The two animals departed Yubu Island on April 28th by container ship, arriving in Kagoshima via Ishigaki Island. From there, they were transferred to livestock transport vehicles and traveled by land, finally arriving at our zoo after a long journey of three nights and four days.

After being placed in Water Buffalo enclosure, the two immediately drank water and ate food, and after an hour they were seen sitting and resting. They are currently staying calm indoors, and once the quarantine to check for any illnesses is complete, training to release them into the outdoor enclosure will begin, gradually acclimatizing them to their new environment in preparation for exhibition.

The two water buffalo that visited the park this time come from Yubu Island, located in the Yaeyama Islands, 400-500 km southwest of Okinawa Main Island. It is adjacent to Iriomote Island, famous for the Iriomote wildcat, by shallow waters, and can be reached on foot or by water buffalo cart from Iriomote Island. The water buffalo that pull these carts are Water Buffalo that live on Yubu Island. In the past, Water Buffalo have been used to cultivate fields on Yubu Island and have lived in close proximity to human life. Nowadays, they have shifted their focus to tourism, pulling water buffalo carts for tourists and showing Water Buffalo how the water buffalo live.

Water Buffalo on Yubu Island are closely involved with humans from the moment they are born, carefully raised, and trained over four years to pull water buffalo carts. As a result, they are very tame and comfortable around people.
Kokichi, who arrived at our park, was still young and hadn't yet pulled a water buffalo cart, but Maru had actually done so. Having lived this kind of life, the two were very tame and friendly towards people. Even after arriving at the park, a staff member led them from the transport vehicle parked next to Water Buffalo buffalo enclosure into the indoor facility on their leashes.

We hope to continue Water Buffalo breeding methods practiced by the people of Yubu Island and, in the future, be able to raise them in a zoo.

Water Buffalo and water buffalo carts on Yubu Island	A view of Water Buffalo breeding grounds on Yubu Island.

​Tama Zoo is currently temporarily closed, but this introduction marks the resumption of water buffalo care after approximately five and a half years. We hope that visitors will be able to see the two new Water Buffalo in person as soon as possible.

(May 18, 2021)
(April 13, 2023: Corrected Maru's age)