Ueno Zoo will be sending Sumatran tigers Alona(1.0) and Makmur(0.1). The animals will depart on 16 June and are headed to Higashiyama Zoo. Ueno will still have 1.4 tigers after the transfer of Makmur and Alona.
Ueno Zoo Tokyo - Ueno Zoo
- Thread starter markun
- Start date
Ueno Zoo will be sending female Pallas’s cat Abricos to Nasu Animal Kingdom. Abricos was born last year to mother Primura and father Kurion, teh latter of which was sent to Japan from Russia in 2018.
マヌルネコの「アブリコース」を那須どうぶつ王国へ移動します
マヌルネコの「アブリコース」を那須どうぶつ王国へ移動します
honeybadger
Well-Known Member
I’m planning to visit Ueno Zoo in late October and have some questions about the zoo. I’m not too sure whether I should create a new thread or just briefly tag along this existing one.
Target mammals:
Target mammals:
- Small Mammal House: Spectral Tarsier; Pallas’ Cat; Short-beaked Echidna; Six-banded Armadillo; Demidoff’s Bushbaby; Pygmy Slow Loris
- Aye-aye Forest and surrounding areas: Aye-aye, Tenrec, Black Lemur
- Are the mammals above more visible during the opening hours or nearer to the closing time?
- Do I need to join the Giant Panda queue to see the pheasants (Temminck's Tragopan, Lady Amherst's, etc)?
- Is there any chance that renovation of the bird house will be finished by October? Nonetheless, any tips for seeing the various birds across different aviaries in the park is also welcomed.
I heard that the pygmy slow loris at Ueno Zoo might have passed away, but I’m not completely sure — I could be mistaken. Also, the last tarsier there is quite elderly, so sadly it might not be around by the time you visit.
As for the other species, they’re usually easy to spot. Like you said, they tend to be more active in the morning or around 3 PM, so they’re generally not asleep all day.
From my experience, the pangolin was the only exception—it often sleeps most of the day, which made photographing it quite challenging.
Also, please note that photography isn’t allowed inside the Aye-aye House since the lighting is kept very dim to protect the aye-ayes’ sensitive eyes.
No, you don’t need to join the panda queue to see the pheasants.
The Bird House is undergoing a complete rebuild, so I believe it will take a few more years before it reopens.
If you’re photographing Lidth’s jay, the outdoor aviary offers better lighting and angles that really bring out its blue colors.
Also, near the pond in the West Garden, there are Aleutian cackling geese—a rare subspecies in captivity, though they can be easy to overlook due to their plain appearance.
If you’re interested, it’s worth taking the time to photograph them.
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biggest_dreamer
Well-Known Member
Oh no, this is very worrying to hear. Someone else had mentioned this in my trip thread earlier this week, but I wasn't sure just how old it was. I really, really hope I'm able to make it before something happens.
Mimpi has given birth to two cubs.
https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/information/press/2025/07/2025070408
honeybadger
Well-Known Member
Thank you for sharing these tips! Glad that I can skip the Panda queue
I didn’t know the no-photography rule for the aye-ayes. It’s unfortunate that the tarsier may not make it by then but I will take my chances nonetheless.
There are multiple cages for the Pallas' Cats in the house, so you shouldn't have trouble seeing the cats in at least one of them.
However I couldn't see any tenrecs at all in the Aye-Aye house because the tanks in there were so dark. There are multiple Aye-Aye enclosures though so you shouldn't have issues seeing those.
Note that all of your target mammals (apart for the Black Lemurs) are housed very poorly indeed at this zoo.
honeybadger
Well-Known Member
I’ve adjusted my expectations about the enclosures. Since I’ll be staying nearby and will be visiting the museums - a bit of missed opportunity not to briefly check the zoo.
Do you remember whether the no photography rule apply to the whole Aye-aye house or only for the aye-ayes’ enclosures?
It's the whole house - the tenrec tanks are little boxes in between the Aye-Aye enclosures.
Female sun bear Kyouko lost her life yesterday night. Kyouko is estimated to be around 30 years old and had symptoms such as diarrhea and weight loss in mid-May.
with Kyouko’s death Ueno no longer keeps sun bears. There are currently 8.6 sun bears across 8 facilities in Japan.
マレーグマの「キョウコ」が死亡しました
with Kyouko’s death Ueno no longer keeps sun bears. There are currently 8.6 sun bears across 8 facilities in Japan.
マレーグマの「キョウコ」が死亡しました
Ueno zoo will be sending away 0.1 Momoka to Chiba zoo.
Two other gorillas will be arriving at Ueno. These are Kintarou from Kyoto and Ai from Higashiyama.
ニシローランドゴリラを移動します
Two other gorillas will be arriving at Ueno. These are Kintarou from Kyoto and Ai from Higashiyama.
ニシローランドゴリラを移動します
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Correction: it is Annie, not Ai. And it’s Gentarou not Kintarou.
Does anyone have information regarding the origin of Ueno's Woylie/Brush-tailed Bettong? A recent paper has identified two extant subspecies (formerly combined under Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi), and I'm hoping the location of origin will clarify which subspecies Ueno's individual is of.
Based on what I know, all Woylies in Japanese zoos are descendants of animals that were imported in 1990s.
1990: 4 Animals from Canada
1994: 2 Animals from Hungary
I'm not sure about the exact zoo/breeding facility that they came from.
Since this import, Japanese zoos have been trying to maintain the population by exchanging animals with other domestic zoos. So most likely all subspecies in Japan are the same or mixed.
captain alligator
Well-Known Member
It was still alive when I visited Ueno Zoo on May 3rd, and I took the photo then.
Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) May 3, 2025 - ZooChat
Upcoming Developments at Ueno Zoo
According to news reports, Ueno Zoo is set to undergo several major redevelopment projects over the coming years. A new Japanese macaque exhibit, featuring a 320 m² outdoor enclosure and a 122 m² indoor enclosure, is scheduled to begin construction in FY2025, with completion expected within the same fiscal year.
The raptor aviary is also planned for reconstruction. A temporary 290 m² aviary will be installed first, while the new facility is expected to be completed in or after FY2026.
In addition, the Small Mammal House will be relocated from the West Garden to the East Garden and rebuilt as part of a combined Small Mammal and Bird House. The new facility, with a total floor area of approximately 1,200 m², will occupy the site of the demolished Bird House.
Zoo Hall will likewise be moved from the West Garden to the East Garden, with a new hall taking the place of the former panda house after its demolition.
Further plans include the redevelopment of the “African Animals Area” in the West Garden, where existing facilities will be either renovated or rebuilt. Finally, the flamingo aviary is set to be reconstructed, with a new 300 m² facility planned.
According to news reports, Ueno Zoo is set to undergo several major redevelopment projects over the coming years. A new Japanese macaque exhibit, featuring a 320 m² outdoor enclosure and a 122 m² indoor enclosure, is scheduled to begin construction in FY2025, with completion expected within the same fiscal year.
The raptor aviary is also planned for reconstruction. A temporary 290 m² aviary will be installed first, while the new facility is expected to be completed in or after FY2026.
In addition, the Small Mammal House will be relocated from the West Garden to the East Garden and rebuilt as part of a combined Small Mammal and Bird House. The new facility, with a total floor area of approximately 1,200 m², will occupy the site of the demolished Bird House.
Zoo Hall will likewise be moved from the West Garden to the East Garden, with a new hall taking the place of the former panda house after its demolition.
Further plans include the redevelopment of the “African Animals Area” in the West Garden, where existing facilities will be either renovated or rebuilt. Finally, the flamingo aviary is set to be reconstructed, with a new 300 m² facility planned.
Hopefully the small mammals will receive improved enclosures... the current Small Mammal House's enclosures are dismal.
