It ain’t an invasive species law without some superstition is it now? In fact according to the Japanese National Institute for Environmental Studies, they are potentially invasive despite not being established anywhere in Japan.
Asa Zoo Asa Zoo, Hiroshima
- Thread starter Bagger Jan
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PD deer .... an invasive species status, huh ... how come? They remain a Vulnerable and threatened species following IUCN Red List criteria. Edit: @PossumRoach, ... I just noted your reply relating to PD deer.
Dama and Cervus .... what is the reasoning behind this? Do any exist in significant numbers in the natural state in Japan?
IMO: How did we come to this kind of uninformed legislation that does nothing to remove nor have enabling provisions for effective removal of the species for the natural environment in Japan. Zoos are under management criteria and requirement that does prevent and preclude any unwanted escapes?!!
BTW: The same braindead legislation is in place here for zoo and ex situ captive-breeding facilities that do nothing to remove nor have enabling mechanisms in place to remove the invasive species from the Dutch natural environment.
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According to NIES Formosan sika deer have been introduced to Wakayama prefecture. So that alone warrants a ban-hammer to many Taxa which also includes threatened species.
With fear anything is possible. As I said previously, since zoos and the rest of the wildlife trade are considered novel, it’s easier to use them as a scapegoat than deal with the actual issue. By restricting the trade you can also look good to the general public saving animals from the evil exploits of the wildlife trade.
It would not be too difficult to genetically type the Wakayama Prefecture populations of sika for hybrids Japanese * Formosan sika, purebred Formosan sika and purebred Japanese (subspecies for Wakayama Prefecture) and remove wholesale the hybrids and Formosan sika still around.
There is a 2014 genetic study by Japanese zoologists alluding to the separation and controlled removal of hybrids and Formosan sika in Okinoshima (Wakayama Prefecture). Incidentally, they found evidence of Formosan sambar Cervus unicolor swinhoei also in the samples. The study cited that the a private facility / breeding farm on Taiwan may have been the source for the Formosan sika deer.
LINK: Evidence of pre-introduction hybridization of Formosan sika deer (Cervus nippon taiouanus) on Okinoshima, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences - Conservation Genetics
(If you can open the article with access to University studies that would be great ...! I can only read the darn abstract (unfortunately ...).
The very same would apply to Dama dama or Cervus ssp., if and where these were introduced accidentally or on purpose in various or any parts of Japan's island archipelago.
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Unfortunately, the remaining individuals are already aged and there is a small chance of reproduction.
zoogeekmaelstrom
Well-Known Member
A small chance is still a chance. I hope that more Père David’s deers can be born.
Yes, there is a big limit to new imports hoofstocks to Japan now.
Imports for many deer species can be done, but it will be an enormous financial burden for the zoo.
The zoos will probably give higher priority to animals that are more cheaper and popular to public, such as tigers and giraffes.
One zookeper friend told me that importing a deer to Japan will be expensive than getting a red panda, so I think that's the answer.
The zoo has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise 9 million yen to buy tools needed to monitor and support Mei’s (African forest elephant) pregnancy and the growth of the calf. The campaign has went past halfway through the first goal.
I have come to realize there is only one African forest elephant at Asa zoo, so did the African bush elephant bull impregnate her? Or did they use semen from Dai, in Yamaguchi?
I know that Dai’s transfer is not mentioned in the thread but he has been living in Asa for a few years now.
Oh, that's great! I'm guessing Dan Koehl did not update the Elephant Database then. Is the savanna bull still alive?
This species is, without a doubt, one of the ones I am most looking forward to seeing on my next trip in May. Are the two animals always visible?
The zoo, as of November, has been building a new giraffe and zebra enclosure. This will be followed by a destruction of the old enclosure and building new enclosures for pygmy hippopotamus and hyraxes.
アフリカ平原の再整備工事についてご案内｜top03_お知らせ｜お知らせ・イベント｜安佐動物公園 asazoo
アフリカ平原の再整備工事についてご案内｜top03_お知らせ｜お知らせ・イベント｜安佐動物公園 asazoo
These are good developments. Have zoo management and architects been designing new more state of the art animal exhibitry for the giraffe and zebra (along with other hoofstock)? Are there any design or outlay plans available?
What about the proposal for new enclosures for pygmy hippo and Cape (???) hyrax. Are there any documents pertaining to their new enclosure designs?
The closest thing I found is this summarized master plan. The plan initially went for common hippopotamus before switching to pygmy hippopotamus. There’s only a rough sketch in page three, and hyraxes are not shown.
https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/26818.pdf
Thanks for digging this one out. I do hope they will publicly communicate on their website or other social media the design, uiting and/or building plans!
The crowd funding campaign ended yesterday and the zoo has raised 30 million yen. Not only does this pass the initial goal, this is also more than twice the amount of the stretch goal (14 million JPY).
With this money the zoo will be able to afford cameras to observe Mei, heaters, tests to track Mei’s hormone levels, a scale to weigh the calf, and milk in case Mei is not able to nurse the calf herself. I couldn’t find anything about the zoo’s plans with the money in case it is well over the stretch goal.
Mei, the African forest elephant, gave birth safely today. According to the zoo, Mei is calm, and the calf has been seen standing and actively trying to nurse.
https://x.com/asa_zoo/status/1952584757105274897
https://x.com/asa_zoo/status/1952584757105274897