markun
Well-Known Member
Nagoya’s Higashiyama zoo (I think) has the most species in the country and in my view is one of the most depressing I've been to. Like Ueno and Tennoji its split in two and located in a public park.
You enter through a big waste of space broad concrete plaza and some of the first animals you see are Indian rhino and Asian elephants in small concrete pens. Most of the enclosures cling to the side of this square which stretches through the zoo.
Continuing on the right hand side of this plaza, there are small paddocks with ungulates including zebra, axis deer and bongo, a lion grotto and a hillside enclosure for Japanese serow which isn’t too bad compared with the rest of the zoo.
Next to this there are Amur tigers in a small cage and a row of depressing pit-like bear enclosures which I think can be viewed from above or below. Dusty with practically no enrichment other than a few branches and rocks, they had I think, spectacled, Asian black, brown and sun bears.
There are some scruffy dinosaur statues and a not very large but not tiny moated giraffe paddock with ostriches, maybe more species but I can’t remember exactly. The paddock is slightly raised and I think backs on to a cliff or stone rock face.
There’s a corner with the obligatory koala house, aquatic birds and Somali wild ass in a pen, there’s a concrete beaver pool somewhere around here too. There’s a big boating lake with a childrens zoo in a far corner. Near the lake are camels, sea lions and polar bears (see report above for info on this depressing grotto).
On the left hand side of the plaza there is a row of cages with small carnivores, kangaroos and capybara in concrete pens, gibbons in a cage and cats including snow leopards and Persian leopards. There is a paddock for Malayan tapirs here too and in the centre of the plaza a concrete (surprise surprise) round penguin pool.
The other half of the zoo has African elephants in an enclosure larger than that for the Asians but still not very attractive. There are hippos with a horrible concrete house and a pool with only a concrete shelf as land area. There are pygmy hippos here too and black rhinos next door.
There are monkeys nearby – including francois langurs. Chinese golden snub-nosed monkeys are in a relatively large aviary style enclosure but not very attractive. I remember they were quite distressed because people kept banging on the glass of the indoor enclosure. Birds of prey are nearby too.
Gorillas, orang utans and chimpanzees are in moated grottos with indoor viewing, I didn’t really like this it was quite gloomy inside and the outdoor enclosures weren’t very inspiring.
There are separate aquarium and reptile houses in this corner,as well a relatively spacious wolf wood and birds including cranes and flamingos.
There’s also a botanic garden and funfair in the park. This zoo has the most concrete and metal of any I’ve been to although there are lots of trees which improve it slightly. I’m sure I’ve missed something; this review is based on my diaries and looking at a not very detailed zoo map.
You enter through a big waste of space broad concrete plaza and some of the first animals you see are Indian rhino and Asian elephants in small concrete pens. Most of the enclosures cling to the side of this square which stretches through the zoo.
Continuing on the right hand side of this plaza, there are small paddocks with ungulates including zebra, axis deer and bongo, a lion grotto and a hillside enclosure for Japanese serow which isn’t too bad compared with the rest of the zoo.
Next to this there are Amur tigers in a small cage and a row of depressing pit-like bear enclosures which I think can be viewed from above or below. Dusty with practically no enrichment other than a few branches and rocks, they had I think, spectacled, Asian black, brown and sun bears.
There are some scruffy dinosaur statues and a not very large but not tiny moated giraffe paddock with ostriches, maybe more species but I can’t remember exactly. The paddock is slightly raised and I think backs on to a cliff or stone rock face.
There’s a corner with the obligatory koala house, aquatic birds and Somali wild ass in a pen, there’s a concrete beaver pool somewhere around here too. There’s a big boating lake with a childrens zoo in a far corner. Near the lake are camels, sea lions and polar bears (see report above for info on this depressing grotto).
On the left hand side of the plaza there is a row of cages with small carnivores, kangaroos and capybara in concrete pens, gibbons in a cage and cats including snow leopards and Persian leopards. There is a paddock for Malayan tapirs here too and in the centre of the plaza a concrete (surprise surprise) round penguin pool.
The other half of the zoo has African elephants in an enclosure larger than that for the Asians but still not very attractive. There are hippos with a horrible concrete house and a pool with only a concrete shelf as land area. There are pygmy hippos here too and black rhinos next door.
There are monkeys nearby – including francois langurs. Chinese golden snub-nosed monkeys are in a relatively large aviary style enclosure but not very attractive. I remember they were quite distressed because people kept banging on the glass of the indoor enclosure. Birds of prey are nearby too.
Gorillas, orang utans and chimpanzees are in moated grottos with indoor viewing, I didn’t really like this it was quite gloomy inside and the outdoor enclosures weren’t very inspiring.
There are separate aquarium and reptile houses in this corner,as well a relatively spacious wolf wood and birds including cranes and flamingos.
There’s also a botanic garden and funfair in the park. This zoo has the most concrete and metal of any I’ve been to although there are lots of trees which improve it slightly. I’m sure I’ve missed something; this review is based on my diaries and looking at a not very detailed zoo map.
