Many zoos around the country are taking an “environmental enrichment” approach to their enclosures to improve not only the physical but also mental well-being of the animals.

Animals’ lives in zoos tend to be monotonous, so zoos are trying to make their surroundings more like those in the wild.

For example, zookeepers are experimenting on expanding the spaces for their animals, giving them more toys or letting them spend more time eating their meals.

For some species, encouraging them to think or keeping them in herds can help replicate and maintain the “rhythm” of their lives in the wild.

MOUNTAIN IN PANDA HOUSE

At Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens, construction was under way in mid-March to build a new panda house. Scheduled for completion by the end of June, the new area will cover 2,189 square meters, twice as big as the current one.

A rolling new athletic field of the house was inspired by mountainous areas in China. The zoo said it will also create a three-dimensional space using imitation trunks each measuring 2 to 3 meters high and hanging hammocks between them.

The zoo will also expand a maternity room and build new nursery and treatment rooms at the house in hopes of promoting breeding of its pandas. A sleeping room will be about six times larger than the previous one.

Some zoo organizations have established specific numerical criteria on the ideal designs of facilities for animals.

The Ueno Zoological Gardens followed standards set by the China Wildlife Conservation Association when deciding on the design of the new panda house.

The zoo said the size as well as noise and humidity levels of the house were adjusted as much as possible to meet the criteria.

“I’m confident that we can show visitors even livelier pandas,” said Yutaka Fukuda, head of the zoo.

A FALCON SWOOPS DOWN

A bird performance is one of the most popular attractions at the Nasu Animal Kingdom in Tochigi Prefecture.

At the show, a falcon swoops down from the sky to catch prey or a white-headed eagle with a wingspan of more than 2 meters flies from several hundred meters away to pass over the heads of the audience.

“We want our visitors to deepen their understanding of animals by combining a ‘morphological exhibition’ that shows our animals’ physical appearance with a ‘behavioral exhibition’ that demonstrates their actions that are seen in the wild,” said Ken Hayashi, 35, a public relations official of the zoo.

Network for Zoo Enrichment, a Tokyo-based nonprofit organization, works to improve the environment for zoo animals from the viewpoint of citizens.

“Many zoos used to keep their animals in cages surrounded by concrete walls out of concerns for their unpredictable behavior,” said Koshiro Watanuki, 33, a veterinarian who serves as a member of the NPO’s board of directors.

“Now, zoos need to provide an environment that allows their animals to live comfortably and gives visitors accurate information about each animal’s habitat and life.”

TROUBLE BETWEEN GORILLA, CHIMPANZEE FAMILIES

Changes in zoo animals’ environment can sometimes provoke unexpected reactions.

At the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Nagoya, the family of Shabani, the zoo’s popular western lowland gorilla, had some “trouble” with their new neighbor, a chimpanzee family.

Shabani’s family was shown to the public in September 2018 after moving to a new exhibition facility following large-scale renovation work.

The new facility enables the family to climb towers installed at an outdoor playground as a substitute for trees, much like their life in the wild.

However, the nearby chimpanzees included a naughty primate named Riki.

Facing the new neighbor across a passage route for visitors from a distance of about 15 meters, Riki, then 7 years old, got too excited at unfamiliar species and started throwing sand at the gorilla family.

The trouble was brought under control several months later after the animals adapted to the new environment. Now, Shabani reportedly lives freely as well.

After closing temporarily as a precaution against the novel coronavirus, the Nasu Animal Kingdom resumed operations on May 23 and the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens reopened on June 2.

The Ueno Zoological Gardens will resume receiving visitors on June 23.

(This article was written by Naomi Nishimura and Yuka Nishimoto.)