Drawing out animal behavior within a large display space
1500 animals from 160 species are on display in an area at 200m altitude. Since the park’s opening, giraffes, ostriches and zebras have been running about on a wide savannah of approximately 7000㎡. Instead of cages and pens, the zoo comes under display methods which have plenty of openness and range as far as the eye can see incorporating techniques such as dry moats separating the animals from the visitors. The zoo is also wonderfully designed so that you can get a close-up look at exhibits such as the Leo Glass where you can see lions beyond the glass barrier and the Giraffe Terrace where you can see giraffes at the same eye level as them.
An award-winning history for breeding endangered animals
Asa Zoological Park is the first facility in Japan to have successfully bred the nation’s Special Natural Monument, the Japanese Giant Salamander. The breeding program has continued for the most part since 1979 and received the highest honor of the 2nd Koga Prize from the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 1988. The zoo also boasts some of Japan’s most prolific results in successfully breeding animals such as raising 18 of the world’s most endangered animal, the Black Rhinoceros and multigenerational breeding of the Grant’s Zebra. In 1998, it also succeeded in artificial insemination from a chimpanzee for the first time in the world with enthusiastic research in artificial breeding.
Many events such as the backyard tour and the night safari
The backyard tour is an event which is held twice every weekend in which visitors can tour the areas of the zoo which aren’t normally accessible. Since the places seen change each time, you will want to join in as often as possible. It is recommended that you come to the zoo early since tickets for this tour are given out on that day on a first come first serve basis. Then in the summer, there is the customary night safari. On weekends from mid-August to early September, the zoo hours are extended to 9 pm. In the evenings, the zoo takes on an enjoyable atmosphere that is different from that of the daytime as there is special illumination.