April 19th is Zookeeper Day - Learn about the work of animal keeper!

April 19th is "Animal Care Day," named after the number sequence "419" (which sounds like "shiiku," meaning animal care). It was established in 2009 by the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums Association of Zoos and Aquariums with the aim of encouraging people to take an interest in zoos and aquariums through the work of animal keeper.

Since this year, Tokyo Metropolitan zoos and aquariums (Ueno Zoo, Tama Zoo Inokashira Park Zoo, and Tokyo Sea Life Park) have been holding various events related to "animal care."

This year's events are as follows. We encourage you to visit the park and participate in the events.

The events will mainly be held on Saturdays and Sundays before and after "Animal Care Day".
Events may be subject to change in location, time, or cancellation depending on the animals or the conditions within the park.

Panel Exhibition "C-Quest ~ A Great Adventure in Animal Welfare"

飼育係2人がドット絵のようなイラストで描かれている。1人は片足を上げ、歩いているような格好

The 2021 Animal Care Day event, "ShiiQuest," is back in a new form! This year's mission is to "find animal welfare items" in each animal enclosure!

"Animal welfare" refers to the physical and psychological condition of individual animals. Ueno Ueno Zoo aims to contribute to biodiversity conservation by promoting initiatives to improve animal welfare.

Use the seven "item panels" displayed in each animal enclosure as clues to find the "animal welfare initiatives" in the exhibit! The items are things that animal keeper have prepared to enrich the lives of the animals. How do the items you find help the animals? Let's embark on an adventure to find animal welfare items!

period

April 14th (Tuesday) - May 31st (Sunday), 2026

place

East Garden: Asian Elephant, Western Lowland Gorilla, Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Birds of Japan I

West Garden Red Panda, Aye-aye Forest (Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur), Vivarium (Poison dart frogs)

How to participate

① Check the "Digital Map" on Ueno Zoo official website, or the seven locations where item panels are installed next to Giraffe near the Ikenohata Gate.

② Go and find the "item panels" installed in each animal enclosure.

③ Look for animal welfare "items" within the exhibition hall. Consider how the items you find enrich the lives of the animals.

This event is a "panel exhibition" where you can look at panels set up in each animal enclosure. It is not a stamp rally or quiz rally. Also, there are no participation prizes.

Pet care talk

animal keeper will give a presentation about "Animal Welfare Initiatives" (approximately 5-10 minutes).

Friday, April 17th

10:30 Asian Elephant

Sunday, April 19th

10:30 Polar Bear
1:15 PM Western Lowland Gorilla
14:00 Birds of Japan I

Thursday, April 23rd

雨天のため、開催を中止いたします。

Saturday, April 25th

10:30 Asian Elephant

April 26th (Sunday)

10:30 Polar Bear

Tuesday, April 28th

10:30 Polar Bear

Wednesday, April 29th

10:30 Asian Elephant

The prairie dog and Red Panda talk scheduled for Thursday, April 23rd has been cancelled due to rain.