Sapporo Maruyama Zoo

Sapporo Maruyama Zoo (札幌市円山動物園, Sapporo Maruyama Dōbutsuen) is a municipal zoo in Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. It opened on May 5, 1951.[1]

Sapporo Maruyama Zoo
Main gate of Sapporo Maruyama Zoo
43°03′05″N 141°18′27″E
Date opened1951
LocationChūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Land area22.5 ha
No. of animals737
No. of species168
OwnerSapporo City
Websitewww.city.sapporo.jp/zoo

The zoo is located within Maruyama Park in western Sapporo, and is the oldest zoo in Hokkaido.[1]

History

Sapporo Maruyama Zoo officially opened in 1951 with its origin stemming from hosting a travelling zoo for the "Ueno Zoo". While hosting the travelling zoo, it received such a overwhelmingly good response from the residence that the City of Sapporo decided to open a zoo itself.[2] The theme and the overarching philosophy of the Maruyama Zoo was to create habitats that mimic the natural environments that the animals originate from. Therefore, the exhibits host a variety of different habitats for various different animals with themes that correspond to their natural habitat. Throughout the decades the Zoo has opened new exhibits, notably the Wakuwaku Asia Zone that opened in 2012, and the Polar Bear Pavilion that opened in 2018; with the Polar bear Pavilion being the largest polar bear exhibit in Japan.

Incidents

Starting in 2010, the zoo tried for four years to mate two hyenas until they discovered they were both males.[3][4]

Access

The zoo is approximately 15 minutes' walk from Maruyama-Kōen Station on the Tōzai Line.[5]

Attractions and Animals

Sapporo Maruyama Zoo covers an area of 22.5 ha, and is home to 168 different species and 737 animals.[5]

Exhibits Animals
Polar bear pavilion (Opened in 2018)
Asian elephant house (Opened in 2018)
Africa Zone (Fully opened in 2016)

Africa zone consists of two pavilions, "Giraffe pavilion" and "Hippo and lion pavilion" . The male lion passed away in 2022, but the zoo has a plan to reintroduce lions

Giraffe pavilion
Hippo and lion pavilion
Wakuwaku Asia Zone (Opened in 2012)

Asia zone consists of three pavilions, "Frigid Zone pavilion", "Highlands pavilion", and "Tropical Rainforest pavilion".

Frigid Zone pavilion
Highlands pavilion
Tropical Rainforest pavilion
Reptile House (Opened in 2011)
Yezo sika deer and wolf house
Yezo brown bear pavilion
Chimpanzee pavilion
Snow monkey mountain
Tropical bird pavilion
Water bird house
Birds of prey house
Forest of owls and hawks
Monkey House
Kangaroo pavilion
Children's Zoo
New Orangutan pavilion (Expected to open in 2024)

See also

References

  1. "Outline of Maruyama Zoo". Sapporo Maruyama Zoo. Japan: City of Sapporo. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  2. "Sapporo Maruyama Zoo | List of Attractions | Tourist Attractions". Welcome to Sapporo. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  3. "Japanese zoo fails to breed two hyenas after both turned out to be male". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  4. Hongo, Jun (3 October 2014). "Japan Zoo Discovers How Not to Breed Hyenas". WSJ. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  5. "Information". Sapporo Maruyama Zoo. Japan: City of Sapporo. Retrieved June 26, 2012.


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