ZP Magazine June 2006
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Bear Parks in Japan David Jones and Ed McAlister This report is the result of an inspection between August largely plain white bread, or prepared pellets to throw to the 14th - 20th, 2005 in Japan collaboratively arranged by the animals. Through this means, the cost of other feeding and World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and the animal care are almost certainly covered. For the larger World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). bear parks with relatively high attendance figures of 200,000 to 300,000 visitors a year and with other forms of The inspectors and authors were 1) Dr. David Jones who is additional attractions for families, the enterprises remain a veterinarian by profession and was formerly Chief very profitable. For the smaller institutions, that profitability Executive of the Zoological Society of London (London is lower. It is noteworthy that these establishments have Zoo). He is currently Director of North Carolina Zoological largely sprung up in popular tourist areas (mountains, hot Park in the United States; and 2) Mr. Ed McAlister was the springs, etc.) where reasonable attendance is assured. President of WAZA at the time of this visit to Japan and They are though very seasonal and typically close down in currently serves as Chairman of the Animal Welfare mid-Autumn, opening again in the spring. committee for WAZA. He is also Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia. Brief Description of the Parks Visited The figures contained in this report relating to details of the 1. Noboribetsu facilities, numbers of bears at the parks, projected income Noboribetsu Bear Park is situated in southern Hokkaido of the parks and costs for improvements at the parks are Prefecture near Muroran on the rim of a spectacular based on observations and estimates by David Jones and volcanic caldera and approached by cable car from the town Ed McAlister during their visit. They are able to estimate below. The facility consists largely of the bear pits such figures based on their wide ranging experience of themselves, together with a circus amphitheatre, a ‘duck managing such facilities worldwide. racing’ arena, a museum and some local human ethnic exhibits. The entry price is about $25USD for adults and For further information and any feedback, readers should half price for children. Attendance is estimated at around please contact: WSPA, 89 Albert Embankment London SE1 250,000. Although there are more bear pits in the facility not 7TP United Kingdom, <[email protected]> on view to the public, the main exhibits consist of two roughly 100x150 foot concrete enclosures, one for adult Background males, the other for adult females (about 25 bears in each). Early in 2004, following discussions with the World Society All the bears in these pits were brown bears. The flooring is for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) London staff on a also concrete, sloping in terraces and with a small number range of bear welfare issues, David Jones was asked of water pools. All of this in a generally poor state of repair. whether there was a possibility that the World Association The wall heights are approximately 20 feet. Public access of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) would be prepared to work above the bears is on two sides. Climbing apparatus was with WSPA to persuade the “bear park” owners in Japan to minimal. Adjacent pits to these, which were not on view to accommodate their bears in more suitable facilities. This is the public, are much smaller, but were occupied from what a program that WSPA has been involved in since 1991. could be seen from a distance. It is believed that this facility Subsequent to that discussion, video material shot at the holds a total of about 150 bears. Many bears were not in bear parks by WSPA staff was circulated to WAZA members, outdoor facilities. One junior member of staff indicated that to American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) these bears have access to further outdoor facilities out of Headquarters staff and to the Chairman of the Bear Tag of sight, but we have some doubts as to whether that was the AZA. Reactions, as expected, indicated considerable case. When the bears are brought off exhibit, they enter a concern about the way in which the bears were kept as system of low ceiling, concrete ‘boxes’, divided one from shown in the videos. Ed McAlister, as current President of the other by vertical sliding doors, operated from outside, WAZA (2003/05) and as someone with a particular interest on the roof. There does not appear to be any assisted fan in wildlife welfare issues was then invited, along with David or other cooling devices for these holding areas, the only air Jones to visit three of these parks with WSPA project staff, circulation being provided by small vents in the roof, which Justine Smith, Victor Watkins and Kaori Sakamoto. are covered by steel grills. All the back service facilities that were visible from the public walkways appear to be in poor The history of the Japanese bear parks is that they began repair and are generally untidy. Water is continually running as centres to care for orphaned wild black and brown bears over the concrete surfaces in these pits and drains down from around Japan. Those centres found the young bears into the pools, which the bears occupy to cool down. From to be popular with the public with the result that breeding there, water flows down to the bottom of the slope and out the animals was encouraged over a number of generations through surface drains. All the bears seen were adults or to provide a regular supply of cubs for what was also a sub-adults. We were told that they had stopped breeding profitable enterprise. However, this program rapidly got out bears at Noboribetsu last year. of control in the sense that bears, being long-lived and relatively robust animals will survive these poor quality The facility has a small circus amphitheatre in which a environments to the point where several of the parks are young black bear, said to be four years old, but the normal keeping literally hundreds of bears in rows of simple, stark, size of a one year old, was displayed, performing a number concrete “pits”. Visitors are encouraged to buy food items, of circus style tricks in a regular show. The facility has two ZOOS' PRINT, Volume XXII, Number 6, June 2006 (RNI 7:9) 1 retail shops at the bottom of the cable car and one at the the whole exhibit being not more than approximately 40ft. top, displaying a variety of relatively inexpensive souvenir square and in a very poor state of repair. items. There were small cafes at both the top and the bottom. The museum, though outdated in its approach and The overall conditions of the structures in Aso reflected a in the materials used, does have considerable educational moderate to poor state of repair. Wall heights were potential. The whole facility, perhaps with the exception of generally 15 – 17 ft. with typically public viewing from one or the cable car, gives a rather run down, dilapidated two sides. Climbing apparatus was generally minimal and appearance. largely of steel construction. 2. Showa Shinzan Report findings Showa Shinzan is also in the south of Hokkaido Prefecture General Condition of the Animals near Muroran. This facility consists of a complex of pits, the With the exception of Aso park, with six bear species, only largest approximately 120x100 feet, and the smallest 40- ‘Hokkaido’ brown bears were kept. In Noboribetsu and Aso foot square. There are also two 30ft x 20ft. roofed concrete the sexes appeared to be separated, although Aso did cages with barred fronts. Smaller pits containing bear cubs admit to regular breeding and there were cubs on show. In and racoons were also part of the facility. All the bears seen Showa Shinzan, some pits housed both sexes together and were brown bears. The general appearance of the pits was they were breeding. General bodily condition of all the similar to Noboribetsu Park, but the facility is clearly more bears seen varied from a normal weight to somewhat recent and in better overall condition with the exception of overweight. Coat/hair condition was fair, however, because those for the bear cubs and racoons. Wall heights of the bears are relatively tough and adaptable, the appearance of larger pits are a little lower than for Noboribetsu Park at an normality does not necessarily indicate good health. The estimated 15 to 17 feet. There was almost no climbing numbers of bears in each pit varied with the size of the pit, apparatus in the main pits, only concrete stumps in a few of but it was not uncommon to see over 30 bears in one them. The bear could climb on top of the public feeding enclosure. Severe overcrowding, with all the resultant ill facility, a covered flat roofed corridor extending into the effects was evident in almost all these exhibits. largest enclosure, similar to one at Noboribetsu. Visitors could project food into the enclosure through tubes in the Veterinary assessment wall of this corridor. The most obvious features, particularly in pits displaying adult males, were a wide variety of surface lacerations, This was a smaller overall facility than Noboribetsu with an mainly claw marks on the lower neck, upper arm and outer estimated 150,000 visitors and approximately 100 bears, thigh. Bite and claw marks were frequently evident along many again being ‘off show’ in holding dens. There was a the back, particularly over the neck and upper thorax.