Tokyo Trip

[biggest_dreamer]

I will give a piece of advice: If you have seen pandas before, don’t bother lining up. It will consume your time, and I suspect that you would rather spend your time adorning the last great slaty woodpecker in Japan than lining up for two hours to see a sleeping panda.

Really? It's that bad? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but the only time I've ever had to wait for pandas in Atlanta was when they had cubs, and even that was less than ten minutes. Very good advice, and I'll definitely remember it for my own trip.

 

[zoogeekmaelstrom]

Animals I did not see on my visit:
1. Bare Faced Curassow
2. Oriental Turtledove
3. Brush Turkey
4. Palawan Peacock Pheasant (I think)
5. Green Pheasant
6. Chinese Bamboo Partridge
7. Masked Palm Civet
8. Greater Egyptian Jerboa
9. Hippopotamus
10. Pygmy Hippopotamus
11. Cackling Goose
12. Great White Pelican
13. Long Tailed Paradise Whydah
14. Oriental White Stork
15. Egyptian Plover
And most reptiles, amphibians and fish

Animals I’d expected to be present but weren’t listed or present (but maybe it’s the problem with my memory):
1. Northern Red Shouldered Macaw
2. Daurian Redstart
3. Violet Backed Starling
4. Pied Imperial Pigeon
5. Common Treeshrew
6. Brazilian Guinea Pig
7. Balkhan Mouse Like Hamster
8. Barbary Stripes Grass Mouse

 

[Dr. Wolverine]

Animals I did not see on my visit:
1. Bare Faced Curassow
2. Oriental Turtledove
3. Brush Turkey
4. Palawan Peacock Pheasant (I think)
5. Green Pheasant
6. Chinese Bamboo Partridge
7. Masked Palm Civet
8. Greater Egyptian Jerboa
9. Hippopotamus
10. Pygmy Hippopotamus
11. Cackling Goose
12. Great White Pelican
13. Long Tailed Paradise Whydah
14. Oriental White Stork
15. Egyptian Plover
And most reptiles, amphibians and fish

Animals I’d expected to be present but weren’t listed or present (but maybe it’s the problem with my memory):
1. Northern Red Shouldered Macaw
2. Daurian Redstart
3. Violet Backed Starling
4. Pied Imperial Pigeon
5. Common Treeshrew
6. Brazilian Guinea Pig
7. Balkhan Mouse Like Hamster
8. Barbary Stripes Grass Mouse

The Daurian Redstart on the signage is just an example of Wintering Birds, and the ones I saw are all wild.

I noticed the Treeshrew exhibit was replaced by Dwarf Mongoose. It probably passed away some time ago.

I honestly think Violet Backed Starling and Pied Imperial Pigeon are supposed to be in the Bird House. Pied Imperial Pigeon is with the Great Slaty Woodpecker and Elegant Crested Tinamou, and the Violet Backed Starling should be with the African Spoonbills and Pied Avocet.

Wasn't the Brazillian Guinea Pig right next to the Three Banded Armadillo in the Small Mammals house? I did not notice them on my last couple of visits, tho I usually skip them.

The striped grass mouse was supposed to be in the small rodents area though they may have died out or been transported.

Long Tailed Paradise Whydah is still exhibited right? I would hate for Ueno to loose this species.

Yes, the pelican, geese, and stork are off-exhibit due to the Avian Flu.

Chinese Bamboo Partridge was with the Azure winged magpies and pale thrush at Japanese Birds 2. They like to hide at the bottom, but they are still there.

 

[zoogeekmaelstrom]

The Daurian Redstart on the signage is just an example of Wintering Birds, and the ones I saw are all wild.

I noticed the Treeshrew exhibit was replaced by Dwarf Mongoose. It probably passed away some time ago.

I honestly think Violet Backed Starling and Pied Imperial Pigeon are supposed to be in the Bird House. Pied Imperial Pigeon is with the Great Slaty Woodpecker and Elegant Crested Tinamou, and the Violet Backed Starling should be with the African Spoonbills and Pied Avocet.

Wasn't the Brazillian Guinea Pig right next to the Three Banded Armadillo in the Small Mammals house? I did not notice them on my last couple of visits, tho I usually skip them.

The striped grass mouse was supposed to be in the small rodents area though they may have died out or been transported.

Long Tailed Paradise Whydah is still exhibited right? I would hate for Ueno to loose this species.

Yes, the pelican, geese, and stork are off-exhibit due to the Avian Flu.

Chinese Bamboo Partridge was with the Azure winged magpies and pale thrush at Japanese Birds 2. They like to hide at the bottom, but they are still there.

Yes, they are, the whydah’s still listed but I didn’t see it.

 

[zoogeekmaelstrom]

Ueno Zoo mini review:

Pros:
First time seeing animals like aye-aye, fossa, black lemur, Pallas cat, pangolin, tinamou, slaty woodpecker, parrot finch, golden breasted starling and scheltopusik
Signs were pleasing to see, gave simple info about the animal
Worth the admission price, which Ueno Zoo is widely known for
Small Mammal House was definitely my favourite part of the zoo, lots of interesting animals like tarsier and echidna. Although they were nocturnal, animals were quite active
Non animal attractions like the giant moa statue were interesting
Gorilla baby appeared, which was quite cute
Tons of rare species that the general public doesn’t usually hear about
The interesting sun bear exhibit, which had a mini otter exhibit integrated to it
Food was decent for zoo food

Cons:
Giant mammals were usually kept in tiny enclosures
The abysmal indoor meerkat enclosure in the Small Mammal house, which was the only part of the house I really didn’t like. The outdoor meerkat enclosure was better
Most bird cages looked dirty and small
Avian species that I wanted to see (looking at you brush turkey) were either blocked off by a white tarp or avian influenza warnings
The lack of canids
Monkey cages looked small, only decent to good primate exhibits were for the gorilla enclosure, the macaque rock and the exhibits for the marmoset and the tamarin.
As you may have known, the zoo has cut off different species from its arsenal over the years. Animals like lion, Barbary sheep, zebra, okapi, Balkhan hamster, striped grass mouse, treeshrew, piping guan, bearded barbet, fireback pheasant, cock of the rock and the last maned wolf of Japan have all left the zoo, which lingered a wave of sadness around me knowing that I can’t see these species anymore.
Didn’t line up but one of the panda lines were abysmally long, I simply went to Panda Forest and saw one panda to save time. I need more info on why people are lining up to see these specific pandas.


All in all, the zoo was interesting and fun to visit. @Dr. Wolverine thank you for helping me with tips and suggestions on visiting the zoo, it made my trip a whole lot better. I would definitely visit again, as this zoo is one zoo you can’t get enough of with its species and history. However, it’s age is starting to show with its exhibits, and species are being lost. Hopefully, the zoo will balance modernity with species diversity to become a world class city zoo. I give the zoo a rating of 8.1/10

 

[Dr. Wolverine]

All in all, the zoo was interesting and fun to visit. @Dr. Wolverine thank you for helping me with tips and suggestions on visiting the zoo, it made my trip a whole lot better. I would definitely visit again, as this zoo is one zoo you can’t get enough of with its species and history. However, it’s age is starting to show with its exhibits, and species are being lost. Hopefully, the zoo will balance modernity with species diversity to become a world class city zoo. I give the zoo a rating of 8.1/10

You're welcome! Hopefully, you can visit again in the spring when the Avian Flu has calmed. I think the big line for pandas was to see the cubs.

 

[zoogeekmaelstrom]

The Daurian Redstart on the signage is just an example of Wintering Birds, and the ones I saw are all wild.

I noticed the Treeshrew exhibit was replaced by Dwarf Mongoose. It probably passed away some time ago.

I honestly think Violet Backed Starling and Pied Imperial Pigeon are supposed to be in the Bird House. Pied Imperial Pigeon is with the Great Slaty Woodpecker and Elegant Crested Tinamou, and the Violet Backed Starling should be with the African Spoonbills and Pied Avocet.

Wasn't the Brazillian Guinea Pig right next to the Three Banded Armadillo in the Small Mammals house? I did not notice them on my last couple of visits, tho I usually skip them.

The striped grass mouse was supposed to be in the small rodents area though they may have died out or been transported.

Long Tailed Paradise Whydah is still exhibited right? I would hate for Ueno to loose this species.

Yes, the pelican, geese, and stork are off-exhibit due to the Avian Flu.

Chinese Bamboo Partridge was with the Azure winged magpies and pale thrush at Japanese Birds 2. They like to hide at the bottom, but they are still there.

Btw here's an updated list of birds and other animals at the Bird House, most of them I saw.

1. Double Barred Finch
2. Red Throated Parrot Finch
3. Fischer's Lovebird
4. Crested Partridge
5. Great Slaty Woodpecker
6. Egyptian Plover
7. Razorback Musk Turtle
8. Crowned Hornbill
9. Elegant Crested Tinamou
10. Black Necked Stilt
11. Eurasian Oystercatcher
12. African Spoonbill
13. Ruddy Kingfisher
14. Japanese Quail
15. Toco Toucan
16. Palawan Peacock Pheasant
17. Golden Breasted Starling
18. Northern Boobook
19. Blacksmith Plover
20. Long Tailed Paradise Whydah
21. White Bellied Go Away Bird
22. Indian Scops Owl
23. Triton Cockatoo
24. White Faced Buffalo Weaver
25. Black Crowned Night Heron
26. Madagascar Ibis
27. Greater Blue Eared Glossy Starling
28. Southern Tamandua

Violet Backed Starling, Northern Red Shouldered Macaw and Pied Imperial Pigeon might be off exhibit, dead, unlisted or moved to other zoos

Overall, a nice bird collection from birds hailing from countries far and wide. Wide variety of bird families with some bird combos that I would've never expected. Plus, the tamandua shocked me as I never would've expected it to be featured in a bird house.

 

[Dr. Wolverine]

Btw here's an updated list of birds and other animals at the Bird House, most of them I saw.

1. Double Barred Finch
2. Red Throated Parrot Finch
3. Fischer's Lovebird
4. Crested Partridge
5. Great Slaty Woodpecker
6. Egyptian Plover
7. Razorback Musk Turtle
8. Crowned Hornbill
9. Elegant Crested Tinamou
10. Black Necked Stilt
11. Eurasian Oystercatcher
12. African Spoonbill
13. Ruddy Kingfisher
14. Japanese Quail
15. Toco Toucan
16. Palawan Peacock Pheasant
17. Golden Breasted Starling
18. Northern Boobook
19. Blacksmith Plover
20. Long Tailed Paradise Whydah
21. White Bellied Go Away Bird
22. Indian Scops Owl
23. Triton Cockatoo
24. White Faced Buffalo Weaver
25. Black Crowned Night Heron
26. Madagascar Ibis
27. Greater Blue Eared Glossy Starling
28. Southern Tamandua

Violet Backed Starling, Northern Red Shouldered Macaw and Pied Imperial Pigeon might be off exhibit, dead, unlisted or moved to other zoos

Overall, a nice bird collection from birds hailing from countries far and wide. Wide variety of bird families with some bird combos that I would've never expected. Plus, the tamandua shocked me as I never would've expected it to be featured in a bird house.

Thanks for the list! Is pied avocet not there anymore?

 

[zoogeekmaelstrom]

Thanks for the list! Is pied avocet not there anymore?

It's not unfortunately.

 

[zoogeekmaelstrom]

Also, I saw an empty gibbon exhibit and apparently green peafowl used to be exhibited there. What happened to the gibbons and peafowl? Also I hope they replace the exhibit with some new animals not found in Japan, like warty pig, babirusa or cuscus. I don't know, maybe I'm getting my hopes up too high.

 

[Dr. Wolverine]

Also, I saw an empty gibbon exhibit and apparently green peafowl used to be exhibited there. What happened to the gibbons and peafowl? Also I hope they replace the exhibit with some new animals not found in Japan, like warty pig, babirusa or cuscus. I don't know, maybe I'm getting my hopes up too high.

Yes, both species were exhibited there a couple years ago. The gibbons died and the peafowl may have passed or may be kept BTS due to the avian flu. I don’t usually go to that area of the zoo, but I will ask a keeper next time I go.