It's okay to have a zoo without giraffes and elephants, April 27, 14:52

"I have two elephants now, but if I die, I won't keep them anymore,"

says Toshiro Iwano, the director who has been close to the animals for 50 years at the Kitakyushu zoo "Itozu no Mori Park."

Mr. Iwano, who retired this spring, aimed for a "healing forest" for both humans and animals.

What is that feeling?

(Kitakyushu Broadcasting Station reporter Mirei Shinyashiki)

There are no giraffes or elephants.

Isn't it okay to have such a zoo?

Itozunomori Park is located a little far from the center of Kitakyushu City.

About 90 kinds of animals, including giraffes and elephants, which are familiar in the zoo, live.

Although not very large, it is a popular zoo that is visited by 400,000 people annually.

Veterinarian Toshiro Iwano (73) served as the director of this place until March.

I have been staring at the garden for 50 years since I started working at the predecessor "Itsu Yuen" in 1972.

The words that Mr. Iwano spelled.

"There are no giraffes or elephants. It's okay to have such a zoo."

It is natural that there are giraffes and elephants in the zoo.

I want to get rid of that stereotype.

Rather than relying on popular animals, if you value the individuality of each animal, it will be an attractive place for visitors.

That is the belief that Mr. Iwano, who once experienced the closure of the zoo, carried on.

As a result of continuing to increase the number of animals ...

The zoo of "Itsu no Mori Park", the predecessor of Izu no Mori Park, was opened in 1933.

At its peak, 800,000 people visit each year, but the number of visitors is steadily decreasing due to the effects of the declining birthrate.

The "I want more people to come"

garden has continued to increase the number of popular animals, up to about 200 species.

Meanwhile, it was Mr. Iwano, who was a veterinarian, who was appointed as the director in 1997.

Looking back on those days.

Mr. Iwano

"When I was young, I thought that the zoo had to be big, and I had to have a lot of animals."

Mr. Iwano who inherited the expansion route.

However, three years after taking office, the garden was forced to close due to financial difficulties.

On the last day, I saw Mr. Iwano in tears.

Restart A zoo that doesn't smell?

It was five months after the park closed that I was happy to hear from Mr. Iwano, who was struggling to find an underwriter for the animals.

The city, which received a strong voice from the citizens saying, "I want you not to lose the zoo," took over the management and decided to restart as the Izu no Mori Park.

Mr. Iwano became the director again at the zoo that was regained by the citizens.

And we will make a bold change in policy.

While reducing the number of animal types to half, we were particular about getting people to see the original appearance of the animals.

It is suggested to put soil instead of concrete on the floor of the animal house.

The keeper who heard the proposal said, "It's difficult to clean because it can't be washed away with water," but I didn't give it up.

As a result, it has become a zoo with almost no zoo-specific odor.

According to Mr. Iwano, the bacteria and microorganisms in the soil decompose the feces and the like, so that the odor does not come out.

Animals don't have to be invisible "feel" animals

Mr. Iwano

"There is no zoo that hides animals so that they cannot be seen like this."

Mr. Iwano laughs as he goes around the park.

The reason why it is difficult for customers to see the animals is the trees planted everywhere in the park when Mr. Iwano took office as the director.

Now the trees are overgrown.

The park is now just like a forest.

Animals can also rest in the shade created by the trees and hide their children from the human eye.

"Because that is the original appearance of animals," says Mr. Iwano.

Making animals hard to see has become popular as it tickles the curiosity of visitors, rather than being unpopular.

It gives us a sense of expectation, "What kind of animal is here?"

In fact, in this garden, there are many parents and children who wait happily until the animals appear to move.

Mr. Iwano wants the animals to "feel" rather than "see" them.

10 elephants if you keep them

Whenever I hear Mr. Iwano's voice, there are animals that approach me.

This is the Ceylon elephant.

There are two elephants and they are sisters.

I came to this garden when they were 1 and 2 years old, respectively.

Mr. Iwano, who was the first to raise an elephant, read the literature from one end and said that he raised a human baby by drinking milk.

It's been about 40 years since then.

The two are 44 and 45 years old.

While talking with plenty of humor, "I'm still the oldest in this garden," Mr. Iwano often visits the two.

Mr. Iwano says, "I don't keep elephants anymore when I die" because I want to keep animals living in a herd in a herd.

Mr. Iwano says that he wants to keep 10 animals, which can be called a "herd" if he keeps them.

Of course, the zoo is an artificial place created by humans, but I want to show children as close to nature as possible.

I think there should be many surprises and discoveries at such a zoo.

Healing Forest Forever

Someday, Izu no Mori Park may become a zoo without elephants and giraffes.

Even so, if the animals themselves are healed, humans should be able to relax.

The healing forest that Mr. Iwano envisioned is certainly here with the smiles of many people after 50 years.

It would be nice to have such a zoo with no giraffes or elephants.

One giraffe died.

I want to keep giraffes in groups.

I have two elephants now, but when I die, I won't keep them anymore.

I don't think elephants are thinking about letting only two animals live in a herd originally.

I want to make Indian elephants live in the forest.

It's not like a foreign zoo, but a park-like zoo with a Japanese atmosphere.

A zoo where you can relax in the forest.

This is a zoo that has disappeared once, but it has been regained by the citizens of Kitakyushu, so I would like all the citizens to think of it as their own garden.

Mr. Iwano left the healing forest on this day while being sent off by many friends and animals.

Kitakyushu Broadcasting Station Reporter

Mirei Shinyashiki

Joined in 2011

Currently in charge of Kitakyushu Municipal Administration