Workshop

動物園における
エンリッチメントの実際
環境エンリッチメントは動物を飼育してい
く 上 で 基 本 と な る 管 理 技 法 で あ る。 野 生 動 物
を 扱 う 動 物 園 に お い て は、 特 に 環 境 エ ン リ ッ
チ メ ン ト を 充 実 す る こ と は 重 要 で あ り、 世 界
的に見た場合飼育や展示の基本として進めら
れるようになってきている。日本では二〇〇〇
年 代 に な り、 動 物 園 で も こ う し た 考 え は 普 及
し て き た が、 動 物 福 祉 に 関 す る 考 え 方 の 文 化
的 違 い に な ど が 要 因 に な り、 必 ず し も 欧 米 と
比較し活発に進められているという状況には
な い。 環 境 エ ン リ ッ チ メ ン ト の 基 本 は 、 大 掛
かりな “ 仕掛け ” を作るというハードの面
に あ る の で は な く、 日 常 の 管 理 の 中 で 以 下 に
それぞれの動物の要求に応える工夫をするか
というソフト に こ そ あ る 。
本 ワ ー ク シ ョ ッ プ に お い て は、 メ イ ソ ン 博
士 に 悪 癖 行 動 の １ つ と 考 え ら れ る「 常 同 行 動 」
に つ い て、 そ の 考 え 方 と 対 処 法 と し て の 環 境
エンリッチメントの関係について最先端の研
究 成 果 を も と に 説 明 し て も ら う。 ま た 実 際 に
日本において環境エンリッチメントを実践し
て き た 堀 氏（ 上 野 動 物 園 ） と 鈴 木 氏 （ 東 山 動
物 園 ） に、 具 体 的 な 環 境 エ ン リ ッ チ メ ン ト の
作 業 に つ い て 話 し を し て も ら う。 こ れ ら の 話
題 を も と に、 環 境 エ ン リ ッ チ メ ン ト の 再 確 認
と、今後の展 開 に つ い て 議 論 を し て い き た い 。
Zoo Improvement / Enrichment
‘Environmental enrichment’ is a fundamental husbandry technique for the rearing of animals. In zoos, which
keep and handle wild animals, improving the environment of the animals is of particular importance. There is
currently a global trend for promoting this environmental enrichment as the basis for both rearing and exhibiting
animals. Since the opening of the new millennium the trend has made some inroads within Japan and its zoos,
however, due to a number of factors, including cultural differences relating to animal welfare practices, the
environmental enrichment of Japanese zoos has not been proceeding as actively as in the West. The
fundamentals of environmental enrichment are to be found not only on the ‘hardware’ side (for example, in the
form of large-scale “gimmicks”) but in the realm of ‘software’, such as in how to best direct efforts for meeting
each animals needs in everyday zoo husbandry. In this workshop, Dr. Mason will explain about the concept of
“stereotypic behavior” in captive animals which is considered to be abnormal or maladaptive behavior, and about
how environmental enrichment can be used as a technique for coping with this behavior based on the results of
leading-edge researches. In addition, Mr. Hori of Ueno Zoo and Mr. Suzuki of Higashiyama Zoo, both of whom
are actual practitioners of environmental enrichment in Japan, will talk about their specific environmental
enrichment work. Based on these topics, we will attempt to reaffirm environmental enrichment and trace its
future development prospects in Japan.
ワークショップ
Workshop
Ⅱ
■ワークショップ Ⅱ　「動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際」
日時及び会場：12 月 12 日 ( 土 )　13：00 ～ 16：00　501 会議室
主催及び座長：上野吉一氏（名古屋市緑政土木局 東山総合公園 企画官）
協力：社団法人日本動物園水族館協会
スピーカー：
1.「環境エンリッチメント：なぜ動物園の動物にとって大切か」
ジョージア・メイソン氏 ( グエルフ大学 動物科学学部　教授 )　2.「上野動物園における環境エンリッチメントの先駆的試み」
堀秀正氏 ( 恩賜上野動物園 飼育展示課　東園飼育展示係長 ) 3.「アフリカゾウのエンリッチメントの実際」
鈴木哲哉氏 ( 名古屋市緑政土木局　東山総合公園 )　■ Workshop Ⅱ　"Zoo Improvement / Enrichment"
Dates : Saturday 12th December 13：00 ～ 16：00
Venue : Meeting Room 501
Organizer & Chairperson : Dr. Yoshikazu UENO Ph.D.
(Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden Greenification & Public Works Bureau, Nagoya City Office）
Cooperation : Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA)
Speakers :
1. 'Environmental enrichment: why it is important for zoo animals'
Prof. Georgia MASON Ph.D. (Animal Sciences Department, University of Guelph)
2. ‘A Pioneering Attempt at Environmental Enrichment at Ueno Zoological Gardens’
Mr. Hidemasa HORI (Curator of East Garden, Ueno Zoological Gardens)
3. ‘Feeding-Enrichment for African Elephants’
Mr. Tetsuya SUZUKI
（Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden, Greenification & Public Works Bureau, Nagoya City Office）
2
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
ワークショップⅡ「動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際」
目次
Abstract　Yoshikazu UENO Ph.D. Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden
Greenification & Public Works Bureau, Nagoya City Office─ ── 4
Georgia MASON Ph.D.　Professor, Animal Sciences Department, University of Guelph　── 5
Hidemasa HORI　Curator of the East Garden, Ueno Zoological Gardens ─ ─ 7
Tetsuya SUZUKI　Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden,
Greenification & Public Works Bureau,Nagoya City Office　─ ── 8
Record　Chairperson's Message　Yoshikazu UENO Ph.D. Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden Greenification
& Public Works Bureau, Nagoya City Office　─ ───────── 11
・Environmental enrichment: why it is important for zoo animals　Georgia MASON Ph.D.　─ ────────────────── 15
・A Pioneering Attempt at Environmental Enrichment at
Ueno Zoological
Gardens Hidemasa HORI　─ ── 29
・Feeding-Enrichment for African Elephants　Tetsuya SUZUKI　────────────────────── 35
question and answer　─ ──────────────────────── 54
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
3
座長メッセージ
Chairperson's Message
上野吉一　Yoshikazu UENO Ph.D.
名古屋市緑政土木局 東山総合公園 企画官
Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden Greenification & Public Works Bureau, Nagoya City Office
近年、動物行動学や比較認知科学の
より豊かな環境で、動物が本来の振る舞いをすること
発展により、動物の内的世界について
は、動物の福祉を考える上で重要なことである。同時に、
我々の知識は徐々に深まってきた。動
動物園を訪れるものにとっても、そうした姿を見ること
物の福祉を考える上で、繁殖が上手く
は楽しいものであり、また動物やそこから広がる自然の
いくとか、病気や怪我をしないといっ
理解を促進するものになるだろう。環境エンリッチメン
た身体の健康に加え、苦痛や要求への
トは、動物園で動物を飼育管理していく上で必須の技術
配慮といった “ こころ ” の健康も重要
と捉えられる。
な課題であることが科学的に明らかになってきた。すな
「環境エンリッチメント」という言葉は広く知られる
わち、飼育動物の福祉を確立するためには心身ともに健
ようになったが、どのようなことを考える必要があるの
康に保つように、
生活環境を考える必要があると言える。
かは日本ではまだ十分には浸透しているとは言えない。
その実践的な方策として「環境エンリッチメント」は考
このワークショップでは具体的な事例をもとに「環境エ
えられる。種毎に異なる環境への要求を理解し、制限さ
ンリッチメント」について検討していきたい。
れた飼育環境の中にその機能を増強するということであ
る。
In recent years, with the development of animal
captive environments has to be addressed.
behavioral studies and comparative cognitive science,
our knowledge about the inner world of animals has
When thinking about animal welfare it is important to
gradually been increasing. It has become apparent that,
enable the animals to behave naturally in environments
when we think about animal welfare, it is not only their
better suited to them. This means that the zoo visitors
physical well-being (healthy breeding, preventing illness
will also enjoy the experience of viewing the animals
or injury, etc.), but their psychological well-being (pain,
even more, and gain a more accurate understanding of
stress and needs) that is also important. In other words,
animals and nature. The process expands from there.
if we are to establish a welfare for captive animals, it is
This technique for husbandry of zoo animals has now
essential to think about their environment for life in
become essential.
terms of both physical and psychological health. A
4
policy known as ‘Environmental Enrichment’ is
While the term ‘Environmental Enrichment’ has now
considered to be practical technique towards this end.
become well known generally, the issues it entails are
Within this, the different demands and requirements of
not yet fully discussed in Japan. This workshop aims to
each species have to be understood, and ensuring they
look at ‘Environmental Enrichment’ using actual case
can reinforce function of environmental within limited
studies.
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
Environmental enrichment: why it is important for zoo animals
環境エンリッチメント：なぜ動物園の動物にとって大切か
Georgia MASON Ph.D.　Professor, Animal Sciences Department, University of Guelph
ジョージア ･ メイソン　グエルフ大学　動物科学学部　教授
Environmental enrichment means
making additions to a captive
When conditions are inappropriate, what do we see?
enclosure or husbandry reg ime,
Stereotypic behaviours are performed by tens of
typically with a view to improving it;
thousands, possibly even hundreds of thousands, of zoo
these additions could include new
animals around the world. These repetitive actions
substrates (e.g. natural flooring), items
include pacing, head-swaying, or even repeated
(e.g. ‘toys’ or novel objects), shelters,
regurgitation-and-reingestion, and they resemble the
scatter feeding, and opportunities to perform natural
abnormal activities of humans with psychological
behaviour. To people interested in improving animal
problems like autism or schizophrenia. These, and other
welfare, a good enrichment is one that reduces signs of
negative effects of captivity (for example, poor breeding
stress or unwanted activities like stereotypic behaviour,
success, high infant death rates, and sometimes poor
and also that the animal itself values (i.e. the animal
rates of adult survival) are both ethical problems
finds the enrichment rewarding to interact with). In my
because they indicate potential animal suffering, and
presentation, I will illustrate why enrichment is
also practical, management problems that interfere with
important, and what additional (perhaps unexpected)
the goals and ideals of good zoos. I will show how
benefits it might have for zoo animals.
environmental enrichment in zoos can help reduce, or
even abolish, these problems. I will give specific
First I will discuss what captivity ‘means’ to a wild
examples of successes and failures, as well as an
animal. Captive animals often live longer than their
overview of how well they typically work.
counterparts in the wild, because they are protected
from predation, treated when they have diseases or are
Finally, using scientific studies on research animals (e.g.
injured, and never experience drought or starvation.
laboratory rats, mice and zebra finches) I will then
However, captivity brings with it many potential sources
illustrate some other, additional benefits of
of stress: these include the enforced proximity of
environmental enrichment which we should also expect
cagemates, and in badly designed zoos, the enforced
to see in captive wild animals. These include: better
proximity of natural predators; close contact with
abilities to cope with stressors outside the home cage
humans (which animals may perceive as predators); and
(e.g. being handled or transported); better resistance to
the impossibility of performing natural behaviours like
some illnesses; making it easier for human carers to
burrowing, hunting or flying which may be ‘behavioural
detect disease in its early stages; better brain function
needs’ (activities that are intrinsically rewarding to
and improved cognitive abilities; and even greater
perform). Whether the positive aspects of captivity
attractiveness as potential mates to animals of the
outweigh the negative aspects will vary according to the
opposite sex. All these benefits are exciting areas for
zoo, the type of enclosure, and the species itself. The
future investigation in the zoo world, and emphasize yet
impact of captivity also varies according to whether the
again how crucial it is to utilize successful
animal was imported from the wild, and instead born
environmental enrichment.
and raised in a zoo enclosure.
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
5
6
環境エンリッチメント（改善）とは、飼育場所や管理
にもたらす影響はその動物が野生から連れてこられたか
体制の質の向上を目的とした要素を加えることです。た
動物園で生まれ育てられかによっても異なります。
とえばこのような要素には、新しい床敷（自然素材の床
環境状態が適切でない場合、どのようになるのでしょ
材など）や物体（玩具すなわち新種の物など）
、
隠れ場所、
うか。常同行為は、世界にある動物園にいる数万、ある
スキャター・フィーディング ( 餌をばら撒いて与えるこ
いは数十万の動物に見られます。常同行為には同じ所を
と）
、動物が自然な行動を取れる機会を与えることが含
行ったり来たりすること、頭部を揺らすこと、食べ物の
まれます。動物福祉に関心のある人たちにとって、環境
吐き戻しと再摂取の繰り返しなどがあり、このような行
エンリッチメントとは、
動物のストレスや常同行為など、
為は自閉症や統合失調症などの精神病のある人に見られ
好ましくない行動の兆候を軽減し、動物たち自身もこれ
る異常行動に類似しています。こういった行為やその他
らの恩恵を感じ取れるようなものということです。( 動
の捕獲下飼育の悪影響（低い繁殖成功率、高い乳児死亡
物たちはこれらに関わることに満足感を覚えます）。こ
率、時には低い成獣生存率など）は、これらは動物の苦
のプレゼンテーションでは、なぜエンリッチメントが必
しみの現れである可能性があることから、倫理的問題で
要か、またそれが動物園の動物にどの様な（おそらくは
あり、また優良な動物園としての目標や理想の実現を妨
思いもしなかった）利益があるかをお話します。
げる現実的な経営問題でもあります。環境の改善、エン
まず初めに、野生動物にとって飼育下で生きることが
リッチメントによって、どの様にこれらの問題を軽減あ
どういうことであるかを述べます。
飼育下にある動物は、
るいは無くすことが出来るかを紹介したいと思います。
野生で生きる同じ種の動物より長生きすることが多いの
また、具体的な成功や失敗例を交えながらこれらの改善
です。
なぜならこれらの動物は他の捕食動物から守られ、
が主にどの様に作用するかを概説します。
病気や怪我の際には手当てを受け、干ばつや飢餓を経験
最後に、研究動物（実験用ラット、ネズミ、キンカチョ
することもないからです。
しかし飼育下で生きることは、
ウなど）についての科学的調査を踏まえながら、飼育下
動物に多くのストレスとなり得る原因をもたらします。
で飼育されている野生動物に環境エンリッチメントがも
同じ檻の中にいる他の動物と密接に生活しなければなら
たらす、さらなるプラス面を説明します。ここでは普段
ないことや、
適切な考慮がされていない檻の配置により、
生活している檻（ホームケージ）から出たときのストレ
それらの捕食動物（天敵）と強制的に近くにいなければ
ス要因（人の手で扱われているとき、移送の際など）に
ならないこともあります。さらに人間と密に接しなけれ
より良く対応する能力、病気に対する抵抗力の向上、飼
ばならないこと（動物によっては人間を捕食者とらえて
育者による初期での病気発見率の向上、脳機能の向上、
いるものもあるでしょう）
、穴掘りや狩り、飛行などの
認識能力の向上、さらに繁殖相手のための異性動物を惹
自然、かつ場合によっては必要な活動（行うことによっ
きつける魅力の向上について紹介します。動物園の研究
て本質的な満足感が得られる活動）が行えないこともス
おいてこれらのプラス面は、今後の非常に興味深いテー
トレスの原因となります。飼育下での飼育のプラス面が
マであり、上手に環境エンリッチメント（改善）を用い
マイナス面よりも多いかどうかは動物園、囲いの種類、
ることがいかに不可欠であるかを再認識させてくれるも
動物の種によって異なります。またこの飼育状態が動物
のであります。
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
上野動物園における環境エンリッチメントの先駆的試み
A Pioneering Attempt at Environmental Enrichment at Ueno Zoological Gardens
堀　秀正　恩賜上野動物園 飼育展示課　東園飼育展示係長
Hidemasa HORI　Curator of the East Garden, Ueno Zoological Gardens
上野動物園では、1999 年から環境
与えていたサトウキビの給餌方法を次のように工夫し
エンリッチメントに取組み、日本の動
た。
物園における普及に一役買うことと
１）
なった。その先駆的事例のひとつとし
塞がった竹筒を用意し、その一方の端に鋸で三角形の穴
て、ジャイアントパンダの環境エン
を開け、この中にサトウキビを入れて与える。
リッチメントを紹介する。
２）
「野生のパンダ」(G・シャラー、胡
を残し、他方は開放になるように切断し、この中にサト
直径 8 ～ 10cm、長さ 30cm ほどの両端が節で
直径 3 ～ 5cm のタケの枝を払い、一方だけ節
錦 矗、 潘 文 石、 朱 靖 著、 熊 田 洋 子 訳、 ど う ぶ つ 社、
ウキビの小片を堅く詰めるから与える。
1989) によれば、野生のジャイアントパンダは 1 日の
３）
うちの 50％以上を採食に費やすという。粥などの人工
はなく、各所に立てて置き、枝の先端を剪定鋏で斜めに
的な餌を与えられる動物園のパンダは、主にタケを採食
切って鋭利な断面を作り、これにサトウキビの小片を突
する野生のパンダに比して、1 日のうちで採食に費やす
き刺して与える。
時間は著しく短い。
そこで動物園での行動の時間配分を、
４）
わずかでも野生に近づけることを目
詰めたタケを室内各所に隠す。
的に、給餌方法を一部変更して、採
以上のような工夫を行ったところ、実施前は 1 回の
食時間の延長を図る環境エンリッチ
給餌でサトウキビを食べ尽くすまでの時間が平均 9 分
メントを実施した。
間だったのに対し、実施後は約 20 分に延長された。また、
対象個体は当時 14 歳のオス（愛称
室内で何もせずに休息する時間や、同じところをウロウ
「リンリン」
2008 年 4 月 29 日死亡）
で、
ロと往復する行動が少なくなり、室内各所を嗅ぎ回るな
餌として与えるタケを室内に寝かせて置くので
サトウキビの小片や２）で示したサトウキビを
1 日に 2 回、午前と午後に 500g ずつ
どの行動の変化が見られた。
Since 1999, Ueno Zoological Gardens has been tackling
enrichment activity that consisted of partially changing
environmental enrichment and its efforts have played a
the feeding method in order to increase the time the
role in the popularization of such enrichment in other
panda spent foraging and feeding.
Japanese zoos. As one example of a pioneering case, I
would like to introduce the zoo’s efforts to provide a
The individual in question was a 14-year-old (at the start
richer environment for its Giant Panda.
of the activity) male panda named Ling Ling, who died
on April 29, 2008. We changed the method of feeding
In the paper, Wild Pandas (by Schaller G, Hu J, Pan W &
sugar cane from one of feeding 500g each morning and
Zhu J; translator: Kumata Y.; publisher: Dobutsu Sha,
each evening to the following method.
1989), it states that Giant Pandas in the wild spend
(1) Prepare bamboo cylinders of diameter 8 to 10cm
more than half of their day foraging for food. Pandas in
and length 30cm and with both ends enclosed by joints,
zoos, however, are given man-made foods such as rice
make a triangular-shaped hole in side of each cylinder
porridge, etc., so the amount of time they spend seeking
using a saw, and fill the cylinder with sugarcane, then
out and eating food is significantly less compared to
feed.
their wild relatives, who subsist mainly on bamboo. So,
(2) Prepare 3 to 5cm diameter pieces of un-branched
for the purpose of bringing the time our captive panda
bamboo, cut each piece so that one end has a joint and
spent feeding at least a little closer to what it would
the other end is open, firmly insert sugarcane chips, and
experience in the wild, we conducted an environmental
then feed.
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
7
(3) When feeding bamboo, do not place the pieces
After we carried out the above-described process,
horizontally in the room, but place them here and there
changes were seen in the Ling Ling’s behavior. For
in a standing condition. Make sharp sections in the ends
example, the time required for the panda to eat all the
of other lengths of bamboo by cutting them obliquely,
sugarcane provided at one feeding was extended to
stick small pieces of sugarcane onto the ends and then
approximately 20 minutes compared with an average of
feed.
only nine minutes previously. Also, the amount of time
(4) Hide small pieces of sugarcane or bamboo packed
spent resting in the room without doing anything was
with sugarcane (described in (2)) here and there in the
reduced, as was the time spent moving back and forth in
room.
the same place, sniffing here and there around the room,
and so on.
アフリカゾウのエンリッチメントの実際
Feeding-Enrichment for African Elephants
鈴木哲哉　名古屋市緑政土木局　東山総合公園
Tetsuya SUZUKI　Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden,
Greenification & Public Works Bureau,Nagoya City Office
野生でのアフリカゾウは 1 日のう
餌の際にえさを隠す、えさを袋に入れる、えさを土の中
ち約 70％の時間を採食のために費や
に埋めるなどの給餌方法を工夫した。これらの方法はそ
すといわれる。動物園で暮らすアフリ
の他に約 30 種類の給餌方法がある。
カゾウにおいては、体重管理のため制
ケニーへの効果を長期的に持続させるために約 30 種
限された量のえさしか与えることがで
類の給餌方法の中から数種を選定して週間エンリッチメ
きない。しかし制限された量のえさで
ントメニューを作成し、毎日変化を持たせたエンリッチ
は、すぐに食べ終えてしまい時間を持
メントを行っている。
て余したアフリカゾウは同じところをまわる、首を上下
その効果を評価するために 1 年間の放飼場において
に振る、体を揺らすなどの常同行動が長時間にわたって
の行動調査を行った。その結果、約 70％の時間を採食
みられるようになる。
および採食のための探索する行動に費やすことがわか
東山動物園では、飼育しているアフリカゾウのケニー
り、常同行動はほとんどみられなかった。このことから
（メス　36 歳）の動物園での生活を豊かにするために、
これらのエンリッチメントは動物園で暮らすアフリカゾ
採食時間を延長することと、採食のために探索する行動
ウの生活を豊かにすることが証明された。
を引き出すことを目的とした環境エンリッチメントに取
現在、採食に関わるエンリッチメントのほかに、新た
り組んでいる。
に味覚、聴覚、触覚、嗅覚に対するエンリッチメントも
方法として給餌回数を 3 回から 8 回に増やした。ま
取り入れてアフリカゾウのケニーの福祉の向上に努めて
た採食のために探索する行動を引き出すために各回の給
いる。
In the wild, African elephants spend 70% of any one day
At Higashiyama Zoo, we are trying out an animal
in eating related activities. Within a zoo, the same
environment enrichment program to improve the daily
elephants have to be given a restricted amount of food
life of a 36 year old female African elephant named
in order to control their weight. However, they eat this
Kenny. We are aiming to prolong the length of her
food amount very quickly and then spend much of their
eating time and encourage searching activities through
excess time just walking in a circle, moving their heads
which she can find her food.
up and down, or aimlessly swinging their large bulk.
One method we are using is to increase her feeding
8
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
times from three to eight. Then, to encourage her search
studied for a whole year to evaluate the results. They
activities, we have gone to a lot of trouble to hide her
reveal that she does now spend about 70% of her time
food, putting it in a sack or burying it in the ground.
eating and looking for food, and hardly ever exhibits
There are now about 30 different ways of providing her
boredom behavior. Our research has proven that these
food.
enrichment methods can make the lives of African
elephants living in zoos more fulfilling.
In order to maintain Kenny’s interest for the long term
we provide a different form of enrichment for each day.
Today, as well as feeding-related enrichment, we are
We select a few options (from the 30 methods) and
working on other enrichment methods involving taste,
compose a weekly enrichment menu.
texture (touch) and smell as part of our efforts to
improve Kenny’s welfare still further.
Kenny’s behavior around the grazing area has been
9
"Zoo Improvement/ Environmental Enrichment"
Record
Dates : Saturday 12th December 13：00 ～ 16：00
Venue : Meeting Room 501
ワークショップ
Workshop
Ⅱ
動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
Yoshikazu UENO Ph.D.Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden Greenification & Public Works Bureau, Nagoya City Office
上野吉一　名古屋市緑政土木局 東山総合公園 企画官
It is now time, so let us start
out the fact that the role of current zoos have changed
Workshop II.
considerably compared to the role of zoos from 30, 40
Before we begin, I would like to
years ago, or from even longer ago. Before, zoos were
thank everybody for taking their time
simply thought to be facilities where animals were
to attend this workshop. This
exhibited. Thus, zoos were mainly for entertainment. In
workshop is about the current
this way, for a long time zoos had the role of a “show
situation of enrichment in zoos, and
tent” although this may be an inappropriate word to
we are here to discuss issues regarding zoos.
I am Yoshikazu Ueno from the Higashiyama Zoo &
Botanical Garden. I will be chairing this workshop.
The following is a brief outline of the workshop. First,
I would like to briefly explain the idea of enrichment.
use. This is seen in the Japanese expression “pandas to
attract customers” meaning zoos should make a show
of such rare animals. However, this does not apply to
the role of current zoos; current zoos are considered as
an “interface to nature.” [slide 2]
Then we will have Dr. Mason fully explain the concept
of enrichment by providing different examples. After
this, Mr. Suzuki and Mr. Hori will speak about the actual
practice of enrichment in zoos.
After each speaker, we will be taking any questions
that must be asked at that point, but we will run out of
time if we hold a long discussion for each question.
Thus, we will hold discussions in the end in the form of
a general discussion. So, please take notes as you listen
on any doubts you have or any issues you would like to
point out, and during the last part of the workshop we
will have an active discussion based on these notes.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Now, first, I would like to briefly explain how to
capture the idea of enrichment.
First, when thinking about zoos, I would like to point
【Slide 2】
Then, what does “interface to nature” mean? Although
this must be in quotes, the essence of animals is not
nature in itself. The idea is to have animals behave in
the way they want to within the limited environment
and to understand animals or the interaction between
the animals and the environment by watching
these animals. Needless to say, this idea will affect
the method of exhibition itself. It is not enough to
simply have animals in cages, and the way in which
these animals are produced as exhibitions will also
change greatly. This idea of the interaction between
animals and their environment is also a theme of great
importance.
So, as written below, the role of zoos is to understand
animals and the natural environment and to
communicate this information and send out this
【Slide 1】
message. This is what is meant by “interface to nature.”
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
11
Until now, I have been talking from the perspective
so I will not speak about this in detail. However, please
of the visitors of zoos, but we also must consider the
keep in mind that environmental enrichment is one
quality of life from the perspective of animals living in
practical measure.
the facility. In order to show how the animals live and
So, environmental enrichment serves to enhance
behave, we must improve their quality of life; in other
the function of the environment. It does not mean
words, we must consider the improvement of animal
simply putting anything into the environment. Many
welfare. [slide 3] [slide 4]
stakeholders of zoos say that it is difficult for them to
perform enrichment because they have no money to
renovate the facilities. Of course, renovating the facility
is one way of enrichment, but the facility does not
necessarily have to be rebuilt for enrichment. Being
creative during the daily routine of feeding the animals
is also an important aspect of enrichment. In this way,
it is important to consider the software, not only the
hardware, and be creative. These things lead to the
consideration of the quality of life of the animals.
【Slide 3】
【Slide 6】
I want everybody to have an image of what I am
【Slide 4】
talking about, so I would like to introduce several
examples. This is a chimpanzee in Higashiyama; until
last autumn, the chimpanzees were in an orthodox
exhibition area with nothing. Chimpanzees are arboreal
species, but in an orthodox exhibition area, they are
unable to climb trees, so most of the times, they lie
on the floor spacing out. We thought of improving
the function and considered improving the three
dimensional function. Of course, it would be the best
if we can make a jungle inside the exhibition, but since
that was impossible, we made an artificial tower in this
【Slide 5】
Environmental enrichment is considered as a practical
method that improves the quality of life and the welfare
12
example. For the animals, artificial does not necessarily
mean something detrimental. The most important point
to consider is how to satisfy their functions.
animals. There are many perspectives regarding this
This is what happened when we actually made the
idea, and I think that the different perspectives will be
tower for the chimpanzees. This is the first day that the
covered by the detailed presentations that will follow,
chimpanzees were released into the exhibition area. In
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
the beginning the chimpanzees were exited, but several
will be entertained by this. I think that it is stimulating
of the chimpanzees started to climb immediately
for the tigers and fun for the visitors as well. [slide 7]
or started using the ropes or the platform. So the
chimpanzees that have been lying on the floor having
nothing to do started to run around lively. They were
able to lead lives like chimpanzees – in other words,
they were able to lead arboreal lives. This is an example
of enrichment from the aspect of hardware. [slide 6]
【Slide 8】
This is a gorilla; as you can see, there is a lot of food
on the ground. The food is scattered all over the place.
This is because the zoo keepers spread the food all over
the place before releasing the gorillas into the area.
The gorilla swill have to look for food before eating.
【Slide 7】
This can also be enrichment.
Next, I would like to talk about an example from
I am being repetitive, but enrichment is not
abroad. This is an example from Bronx Zoo located
necessarily making something like a big building;
in New York in the United States. This example is one
that is, it is not necessarily doing something with the
about the tiger mountain, an exhibition of tigers. The
hardware. In Japan, generally enrichment is thought of
exhibition is rich in nature, but this does not mean that
in this way, but this is not necessarily true.
the tigers can lead a good life. Of course, environments
Enrichment has aspects that deal with the hardware,
rich in nature are important. However, it must be noted
but there are also many creative things that can be done
that the zoo keepers hide food in these ways or use
from the aspect of daily management of the animals.
wires to hang chunks of meet to hide on a daily basis.
Of course, there are aspects that are good for the
Also, this is jelly that contains blood. Also, here, the
animals; however, it is not only good for the animals but
zoo keepers are sprinkling scents. They are sprinkling
it also draws out behaviors that are fun for the visitors
scents of things such as spices and perfume in various
to watch as I have shown with the example of the tigers.
places in the area. The zoo keepers are artificially
In this way, zoos are not just for showing animals but
mocking the behavior of tigers where they leave their
for showing the behavior and the lives of the animals
own scent in their territory. When tigers are released
and their interaction with the environment. These are
in these areas, they would be interested in the food, or,
the roles of zoos. Considering this, enrichment is a very
that was a marking behavior of a tiger. The tiger was
important technique for husbandry. [slide 8]
stimulated by the smell, and marked the place with its
own smell meaning that this area is its territory.
Also, the environment draws out the behaviors of
tigers such as marking its territory by clawing. Tigers
are not exhibiting these behaviors because of all the
So, from here we would like three speakers to talk
about this concept in detail.
First, we would like to hear from Dr. Mason.
While she is preparing, I would like to give a brief
history or an introduction of Dr. Mason.
greens and nature; they are exhibiting these behaviors
Dr. Mason has being researching for a long time in
because the zoo keepers are doing creative things
England, and currently she is researching in Canada.
that would be called enrichment. When tigers do this
She has many papers on topics such as animal welfare
marking behavior in front of the visitors, the visitors
and enrichment published in high quality journals
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
13
such as the Nature and the Science. She is young but
is a researcher who draws attention. In this regard,
she is one of the leading researchers in this area
internationally.
14
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
Environmental enrichment: why it is important for zoo animals
環境エンリッチメント：なぜ動物園の動物にとって大切か
Georgia MASON Ph.D.　Professor, Animal Sciences Department, University of Guelph
ジョージア ･ メイソン　グエルフ大学　動物科学学部　教授
T h a n k y o u ve r y m u c h . S o , i t ’
mainly come from looking at stress and suffering in
s a great pleasure to be here. This
people. So, we can look at humans having a terrible
afternoon, I’m going to cover four
day at work, and we can look at humans for whom the
main topics. But, my first topic is how
work stress never stops. We can look at people having
scientists assess stress and welfare in
an argument, or we can look at people trapped in a
animals. And this is important, if we
bad relationship. We can look at somebody crying. We
were to make decisions based on our
can look at somebody who’s depressed. We can look at
heads, and not just our hearts. Then I’m going to talk
somebody who’s very frightened, and we can look at
about what captivity means for wild animals. Then I’m
somebody for whom the fear goes on and on. And in
going to talk about what we know about the value of
people going through these states of bad welfare, we
environmental enrichment. And then I’m going to give
can measure many things that change in their bodies.
you some speculative information about what studies of
We can look at their hormones, we can look at their
laboratory animals suggest might be mean functions of
immune systems and we can look at their behavior. And
environmental enrichment.
these measures give us measures to apply to animals.
【Slide 1】
【Slide 3】
【Slide 2】
【Slide 4】
So first of all, let’s cover how people doing science
So what do we see? We typically see agitated, restless
assess animal welfare. And, the techniques people like
behavior. We see very strong desires to change the
me use for accessing stress and suffering in animals
situation. People want to escape. We see depression,
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
15
anxiety.
We see stress hormones being released, like
adrenaline and corticosteroids. We see problems with
reproduction, infertility, infant death.
We see immune problems, and consequently we also
see high rates of disease, stomach ulcers, heart disease,
and even shortened life spans.
So all these are measures we can look at in animals.
And I want just focus on two of these to explain them in
a little more detail.
The first is agitated restless behavior. So if a normal
【Slide 5】
human being is stressed, we might see things like, you
bite your nails, or you may pace, or you may move your
knee up and down in a restless way.
But if you’re a human with a clinical condition like
autism or schizophrenia, then we see stereotypic
behavior which is very abnormal, very heavily repeated
behavior. So on the left, we have a small boy with
autism who is waving his hands in a stereotypic way,
repeatedly.
And these are similar to what we see in very damaged
animals. So, here we see a monkey taken from its
【Slide 6】
mother very early, and again we see these very strange
behaviors when the animal is stressed. And another
measure I just want to explain in a bit more detail, is the
stress hormones.
So these are adrenaline and corticosteroids.
Here we have the kidney, and above the kidney is a
little gland called the adrenal glands. And when we are
frightened, our brain sends a signal, and the adrenal
glands releases these hormones.
Okay, so now I’m going to spend a while talking
about what captivity means for wilds animals both, in
【Slide 7】
a good way and in a bad way. So, the important thing
to realize is that for a wild animal, captivity have some
advantages; it’s safe, they have plenty of food. But, it
has disadvantages as well; it can be very boring and
the animals are physically restricted. So how do these
advantages and these disadvantages balance out? Well,
life in the wild is certainly very tough. Animals have to
look for water and food.
So this little bird here has to eat insects every few
minutes or it will starve, these deer are trying to find
food in the snow, these foxes are trying to find water in
a desert. Life is tough. And so for many animals, being
16
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
【Slide 8】
in, looked after by humans is wonderful.
unvarying behaviors, very similar to like what we see
They have food given to them, they’re safe, they
in people with autism. So here we can see two bears
have good health care. And this is true, not just for
pacing. Here’s a jaguar pacing. And here this elephant
is doing exactly the same movement each time, so it
puts its foot in exactly the same place each time it goes
【Slide 9】
【Slide 11】
【Slide 10】
domesticated species, but for some wild species as well.
【Slide 12】
So just to give you some examples of species that do
very well in captivity, grizzly bears do wonderfully in
zoos.
They don’t show abnormal, stereotypic behavior, they
breed very easily, and their infants survive very well. So
they seem very happy in captivity. And there are several
other species that seem very happy in captivity as well.
The Arabian oryx is one. The rhesus monkey is
another. The Ring-tailed Lemur does very in zoos, and
so too does the Norway rat.
But we all know, sadly, that this is not the whole story.
【Slide 13】
And that for some animals in zoos, captivity really is a
round and round. So these behaviors are a problem.
problem, and we see bad behaviors like this stereotypic
And in some species, these stereotypic behaviors are
behavior in a bat.
very, very common. So for example, in giraffes in zoos,
So I want to talk now about some of the problems we
see, and then maybe how we can solve them.
80% of the animals do stereotypic behavior.
They do strange movements with their tongues;
So first of all some of the problems we see are
they stick them out, the move them round and round,
stereotypic behaviors which are these very repetitive,
they lick the wall, or they lick other objects in their
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
17
enclosure. In other species, stereotypic behavior is also
common and we see other problems as well. So for
example, for both species of elephants in zoos, there’
s many reasons to be concerned about their welfare.
Once again, they show stereotypic behavior, So this
again, here we see swaying, and on the right we have
the video I showed you before. But we also see other
problems as well in both species of elephants in zoos,
and we’ll hear about some solutions later this afternoon.
Across the elephants in zoos, we see veterinary
problems like lameness and skin diseases. Animals may
【Slide 14】
kill their own babies, commit infanticide. Other animals
may be infertile and elephants often die prematurely.
So for Asian elephants in zoos, they live half as long as
they would if they were working in a timber camp, if
they were in their wild country.
Cheetahs are another species that often have problems
in zoos. So, one problem we see is that they produce
lots of stress hormones. If you look at stress hormones
that are excreted, you see they have very high stress
hormones compared to animals in the wild. And
because of this, their adrenal glands, the glands that
【Slide 15】
produce the hormones, become very enlarged. If you
look at the adrenal glands from a cheetah in a zoo, they
are maybe four times bigger than the glands from a
cheetah in the wild. And because of these high levels of
stress hormones, they are very prone to problems with
their stomachs, gastritis and gastric ulcers. And on top
of these problems, we also see reproductive problems
in zoos. So for example, when they breed their babies
are very at a risk of dying early and infant mortality
rates are twice of what you see in breeding centers in
Africa.
It’s not all bad news, however. So, how animals adapt
【Slide 16】
to captivity, how they adapt to zoos is variable. It varies
across species, it varies according to whether it was
captured from the wild or brought into a zoo, and it also
varies with what the zoo is like. So I’m going to give you
some examples and then show you how this can help
us identify solutions to welfare problems. So here is one
example of variation between zoos. So I told you that
infant mortality is high in this species, the cheetah, but
it’s very variable between zoos. In some zoos it’s quite
low, at just 17% in the first six months. In other zoos it’
s very high with nearly half the infants dying before
18
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
【Slide 17】
【Slide 18】
【Slide 22】
they are six months old. So some zoos are getting it
right, some zoos are not. We also see variation between
species, with some species doing very well, and some
species doing badly. So on this slide, the bottom row all
tend to do well in captivity, and the top row tend to do
badly.
So these species don’t show abnormal behavior, their
babies survive well, the animals breed well, and the
animals typically don’t have many health problems.
These related species tend to have health problems,
【Slide 19】
abnormal behavior, and lots of other symptoms of
stress. So we can use scientifically, we can use the
variation between species and the variation between
zoos to objectively identify the origin of welfare
problems.
So here is one example. Across the species of
carnivore we can see that lots of the variation in welfare
is caused by variation in their natural biology. So on this
graph, each dot is a different species. And here we have
stereotypic behavior, how much abnormal behavior
they show, and here we see how big a home range they
【Slide 20】
have in the wild. And this graph shows us that species
with small home ranges in the wild, like the mink and
the arctic fox, don’t have much abnormal behavior in
zoos, but species that have big home ranges in the wild,
like the polar bear and the lion have lots of stereotypic
behavior in zoos. And we see a similar effect of natural
behavior as a risk factor for infant mortality in captivity.
So again, this is home range size in the wild, and here
is infant mortality in captivity, and again we can see
species that naturally have small home ranges do well
in captivity, species that naturally have big home ranges
tend to do bad in captivity. So the polar bear here: two
【Slide 21】
thirds of its babies will die in the first month.
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
19
And if we look at the natural biology of a polar bear,
we can see what an enormous difference their life in
the wild is from their life in captivity. So when polar
bears in the arctic travel, a home range may be nearly
80,000 square kilometers, and even an animal with
a small home range still moves a thousand square
kilometers each year. And this is a big contrast with the
typical enclosure size in the zoo, which may be just a
thousand meters squares. So the typical enclosure size
in the zoo is 1/1,000,000 the size of the home range in
the wild. We can see this is a big difference, and maybe
【Slide 23】
no wonder that’s why they have welfare problems. So
this was an example of species differing in welfare and
finding out the reasons why.
So you can see that we can use variation between zoos
to start identifying what causes animals’ bad welfare.
And here is one last example. So this species is the
clouded leopard. And another multi-zoo study by Nadja
Wielebnowski showed that in zoos that have lots of
hiding places that are up high and lots of places where
the animals can escape from the public, again these
animals have low levels of corticosteroids. But if there
【Slide 24】
aren’t places to hide, then the animals have high levels
of corticosteroids.
So put together this information showing that wide
ranging species tend to have more welfare problems
and that animals that can’t retreat from humans tend
to have more welfare problems, really raises two
questions. And the first question is: Do animals miss
a natural life? Is not having a natural life a problem?
And the second question is: Can we make bad welfare
conditions into good welfare conditions by making the
environments more natural? And as professor Ueno
said, one significant way of doing this is to add objects
【Slide 25】
【Slide 26】
20
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
and structures to interact with in the environment; so to
enrich the environments and to give the animals more
to do.
【Slide 30】
【Slide 27】
【Slide 31】
leopards and zoos that don’t have hiding places seem to
have more stressed clouded leopards. So this suggests
【Slide 28】
an obvious way of improving the enclosure for this
species: give them more hiding places. So does this
work? So here is data from an experiment by Nadja
Wielebnowski from Brookfield Zoo. And here, each
pair of bars is one animal, so there were six clouded
leopard here. And what these data show is their levels
of stress hormones. The black bars show their stress
hormones before they were given enrichments and
the white bars show their stress hormones after they
were given raised up places in which they could hide.
And you can see that in every one of the six clouded
【Slide 29】
leopards in the six different zoos, when they were given
hiding places, their stress hormone levels went down;
So what I want to do now is to show you some
their stress hormone levels more than halved. So that’s
data that illustrates how important environmental
a nice example looking at stress hormones. What about
enrichment is for animals in zoos. And I’m going to
abnormal behavior?
give you examples from zoos, but also examples from
So here we see the typical stereotypic behavior of
other species as well, just because they’ve been so
a gerbil kept in a laboratory cage. They go to the
well studied. So I showed you this slide just now, and I
corner of the cage, and they make these digging,
told you that across different zoos, zoos that have lots
digging, digging movements. So, why do gerbils show
of hiding places tend to have more relaxed clouded
stereotypic digging? And, can we stop this behavior
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
21
If it can see other horses, it will show much less of
this behavior. And even if you give it a mirror, that
will reduce its stereotypic behavior. So this isn’t a real
natural stimulus, but it tricks the horse into thinking
that it has company. And the it feels as though it is in a
herd. So this is a very nice example of an environmental
enrichment that is artificial, but it mimics an aspect of
the natural life.
【Slide 32】
【Slide 34】
【Slide 33】
with environmental enrichment? Well, if you look at
what gerbils do in the wild, they live in the desert and
they naturally dig burrows. And here, you can just see
the little gerbil. Can you see its eye poking out of the
hole? So they dig these burrows to escape from the
heat of the desert sun and to hide from the cold of the
desert night. So having a burrow is very functionally
important for them. And what happens is they dig a
tunnel, and then it goes to a little nest chamber where
So does this work in zoos? Well, the answer is most
they can sleep and raise their babies. So even in a
definitely yes. So these data come from a survey of
laboratory cage, you give them a nest chamber with a
23 studies that have been done across zoos all over
tunnel; it completely stops stereotypic digging. They
the world. And this data shows that when you give
need a tunnel going to a nest chamber to feel safe. And
environmental enrichment stereotypic behavior falls;
if they don’t have the correct type of nesting chamber,
typically, it falls by about 50%. So on the whole, giving
they would carry on doing this stereotypic digging.
enrichments to carnivores, or primates, or to many
And this illustrates something that professor Ueno
22
【Slide 35】
other species, seems a very successful strategy in zoos.
said earlier. You don’t always have to give animals
And enrichment doesn’t just reduce stereotypic
completely natural stimuli. You can give them artificial
behavior, it can help other benefits as well. So this is an
stimuli that satisfy them in the way that natural stimuli
example of work by Ron Swaisgood and some Chinese
do. And here’s another example that illustrate that point
collegues working in the Wolong Panda Breeding
too. Horses are naturally social species; they naturally
center in China. And they found, in this breeding
live in herds. And if you keep a horse by itself, isolated
center, the pandas were having lots of problems –
in a stable, it will show lots of stereotypic behavior.
lots of reproductive problems – and they embarked
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
on a big strategy of environmental enrichment. They
redesigned the enclosures, they gave them objects to
interact with, and they made their diets more natural,
so they put bamboo in their diet. And they had lots of
success; it triggered the birth of many babies – here
are some babies here; they look like toys but they’re
real – and the enrichments also reduced stereotypic
behavior. So all these examples from wild animals
and also domesticated animals show you that good
environmental enrichments prevent or reduce chronic
stress in captive animals, and they also reduce abnormal
【Slide 38】
behavior. And they seem to do this by allowing animals
to escape from things they find frightening, and that
might include us humans, and it also allow animals to
meet their behavioral needs –the high motivations to
perform natural behaviors that they would do in the
wild. Now, we know this, and good zoo keepers know
this, and good zoo curators know this.
【Slide 39】
【Slide 36】
【Slide 40】
【Slide 37】
What I want to do next, for the last section of my
talk, is to talk about things that are a little bit more
speculative, but I think that are interesting because they
show that enrichment might have some practical uses
【Slide 41】
as well.
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
23
So even if you don’t care about animal welfare, if
you want to persuade someone that environmental
enrichment is important, you might want to persuade
them that it has practical benefits that are worth the
time, the energy, and the cost.
So let’s look now at some work on laboratory animals
that suggest some unexpected practical benefits that
environmental enrichments might have. Now we don’
t know if these work for zoo animals, but my bet would
be yes. So the type of work I’m talking about typically
looks at laboratory rodents, like this rat, and some of
24
【Slide 42】
the work looks on mice, and then at the end I’m going to
the animals in the small boring cages. Now when there
show you some work done by one of my PhD students
is no challenge, the two groups of animals look the
on mink that we keep as a research subject. Now people
same; these two lines are not significantly different.
at work with rodents look at environmental enrichment
But when they are exposed to the challenge of being
of a range or types; so they might keep them in a small
handled, picked up, and grabbed, the control animals
boring cage like this, they might add a few enrichments,
show a big release of stress hormones, and the enriched
or they might keep them in a big fancy cage like this
animals don’t. They just cope with the stress, they’re
full of toys and novel objects.
just not that bothered about it. And there are many,
Now when you keep rats and mice in enriched cages,
many similar examples. And when it comes to looking
just as we saw with zoo animals, the environmental
at the effects of enrichment on disease resistance again
enrichments typically reduce stress and reduce
we find lots of examples too. So for example, laboratory
abnormal behavior. That’s not new. It’s nice to see, but
rodents are often used to study human diseases. They
it’s not new. But what we also see is some other things
can be diseases like Huntington’s disease, epilepsy, or
as well. So first of all, we also see the environmental
Alzheimer disease. And in all these research conditions,
enrichments improve animals’ abilities to cope with
animals that have environmental enrichment showed
stress even when they’re taken out of that enriched
less severe forms of the disease. So enrichment reduces
environment. So it seems to make animals better able
Huntington’s disease, epilepsy, and Alzheimer disease.
to cope, more stress resistant. So I’ll give you some
It also reduces the risk of getting infectious disease.
examples. And it seems to make them, sorry, I should
Animals with enrichments also have better wound
say it seems to better able to cope with stress and
healing; so if they are cut, or if they have surgery, they
it makes them better able to cope with disease. So
heal faster. And their immune systems are generally
they’re good at coping with challenge. So in this first
better. And some studies even suggest that rodents
example, this is just one example of many showing that
with enrichment live longer lives. So here’s just one last
laboratory rodents within environmental enrichment are
example. If you house a male mice with a nice female,
better resistant to acute stress. So in this experiment,
and if he’s in research where he’s given a stroke – this
rats were kept in big enriched cages or they were kept
is not a very nice research, but rodents are used in this
in small monotonous laboratory cages like these. And
research all the time- if he’s given a stroke in the head,
the stressor the rats were exposed to was being picked
males that are housed with a female recover much
up and handled, which rats typically don’t like very
faster from this injury than males that are kept on their
much.
own.
So this graph shows stress hormones released by
In more experiments with mice, mice that have prion-
the adrenal glands. That’s what these lines are. The
disease, so, like mad cow disease, mice that have the
dotted line are the data from the animals in the big
prion-disease stopped making burrows at a very early
enriched cages. And the control, or the “c line” is for
stage in the disease. So again, their giving up of natural
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
【Slide 43】
【Slide 47】
behavior is a very sensitive indicator that something
is wrong with them. So this might be very practically
useful.
【Slide 44】
【Slide 48】
Another advantage of environmental enrichment
that’s shown to us on studies on mice and rats is that
environmental enrichment improves brain function.
It improve the development of the brain and it also
improves the animal’s ability to learn and to remember.
And we can see anatomically many changes in the
brain; increased branching in the nerve cells, and even
【Slide 45】
increased brain weight. And so as a result, an animal
that is raised in a standard, unenriched environment
tends to have a smaller brain that doesn’t work so well.
They’re basically more stupid, they have less good
learning ability.
Now the last example I want to give you comes from
a study in my own laboratory, done by a PhD student
of mine, Maria Diaz. And we were interested to see
whether environmental enrichment makes animals
more attractive to members of the opposite sex because
one problem we often have with captive animals is that
【Slide ４6】
they won’t mate with each other. It can be a problem
in zoos, it can be a problem all over the place. So we
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
25
【Slide 49】
【Slide 51】
【Slide 50】
【Slide 52】
wondered whether females would prefer to mate with
low stress males from enriched environments. Are
these males more attractive? Do they may be seem
as though they may have better genes and that they
would be better father’s for a female’s offsring? And
here we have a female mink, thinking about it. So to
do this experiment, we housed mink in two types of
environments. In one environment, they were kept in
home cages that were small and bare. And you can
see here, there’s one, two, three, four, five, six, seven
small, bare home cages and these are the standard
26
【Slide 53】
environments. But for half the mink, these home cages
can visit a male on either side. There are little holes
had climbing towers coming out of the top of them. And
here that the female can get through if she wants to
these towers led to wonderful, enriched compartments,
visit a male. The male is too big, and he can’t get out
and in these enriched compartments, they had toys,
of these holes, so all the male can do is to wait and
novel objects, they had flowing water in which they
hope that she will visit him. So here’s a female deciding
could swim. They had lots of interesting things to do.
between a standard house male and an enriched
So half the mink are lucky; they can escape from this
house male who has a tower here that connects to
boring cage, and half fun in the enriched cage.
In our experiment, we gave females a choice between
enrichments elsewhere. And she’s deciding which male
the males, raised in each of these two environments. So
females preferred to mate with males from an enriched
this is the female cage, and she can leave it and enter
environment. So here we have the numbers of matings
this little tunnel, and from this tunnel, if she wants, she
and here we have the enriched males and here we have
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
she likes best. And we found very convincingly that the
seals. I’d just like to ask your opinion on that. Thank
you.
Dr. Mason:
There’s good data showing that at least in the felids,
small felids, so small cats that are housed near big cats
like lions and tigers, have problems with stress; perhaps
not surprisingly. So I would think that the seals would
have some problems being housed next to the polar
bears. The question is, is it good for the polar bears
to see the prey? And actually, I’m not sure, because it
【Slide 54】
may be stimulating and wonderful, or it may be very
the barren males. So animals that are environmentally
frustrating; like always seeing candies in a candy store
enriched are more attractive to the opposite sex.
that you can’t get to. They see these delicious seals and
So all these studies from laboratory rodents suggest
they can never get to. And it’s really not very nice for
not only that environmental enrichments can reduce
the seals. So my instinct would be that it’s not a very
stereotypic behavior and reduce stress in the home
good idea.
environment, but they can also have benefits out of that
Audience:
environment as well, improving animals’ abilities to
Thank you very much.
cope, and maybe having other practical benefits that we
Dr. Ueno:
haven’t yet measured in a zoo situation.
Other questions?
So just to conclude, then for zoo animals we know
Audience 2:
that environmental enrichment can reduce stereotypic
In experiments, in the case of animals, those with
behavior, it can improve infant survival, and it can allow
enriched environments, you said were more attractive
animals to perform natural behaviors. And work on rats,
to the opposite sex. Can the same be said for people?
mice, and mink in research laboratories, also suggest
Dr. Mason:
that environmental enrichments may well improve
Is it true for humans? Yes (laugh). Yes particularly,
abilities to cope with stress and disease, improve
it’s terrible to say this, but in human females, females
animals’ cognitive abilities. It may improve humans’
are interested in resources and money more that men
abilities to detect illness at a very early stage which
are interested in them. So yes. So across all mammals,
would be useful for vets, and it may make animals more
females are looking for a mate that can provide a good
attractive as mates to members of their own species.
territory, good genes, he’s showing resistance to stress,
So that’s it. Thank you very much.
he doesn’t have diseases, he’s big and strong. So a male
that’s raised in an enriched environment whose not
Dr: Ueno:
stressed, and whose not going like this with stereotypic
Thank you, Georgia. Does anybody have any
behavior, is probably more attractive. There are nice
questions about this presentation?
data from humans, there are nice data from lots of
Audience:
species.
Thank you very much for your very, very interesting
Audience 2:
lecture. I suppose, since I’m asking you, I should ask in
So could you give me some advice on what kind of
English; it’s might be easier. Reading your abstract, you
environment I should put myself in, in order to attract
mentioned something about predators and prey being
the opposite sex?
very close together and that being very stressful. It
Dr. Mason:
wasn’t in your lecture, but recently we’ve read that one
I don’t know. You can judge as well as me.
of the Japanese zoos is planning a polar bear enclosure
Dr. Ueno:
where the polar bears has access to a glass window to
So maybe one more question?
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
27
Audience 3:
Dr. Ueno:
I heard lots of interesting things about stereotypic
What do you think of visibility of animals in zoos.
behavior. There is behavior such as pacing, that
Dr. Mason:
happens as displacement behavior due to the lack of
Umm, it’s difficult for me to comment, but I guess I’
the ability to engage in other behaviors, and there
d say, when animals don’t want to be seen we must
is behavior that remains as a habit even after the
respect that. When animals want to be seen, it’s
environment is changed. I would like to know if there is
fantastic and of course that’s why we go to the zoo. But
a structural difference between the two.
if they don’t want to be seen, I think we mustn’t force
Dr. Mason:
them. So maybe we have to educate the public. Well,
That’s a very good question. So, I showed you data,
the animal wants its privacy now, so sorry, just move to
showing that when animals have enrichment behavior
the next enclosure. Or we have to pick our species with
drops by half but it doesn’t disappear. And to some
care. Some species just do fantastically and don’t mind.
extent it may fall because some of the behavior changes
And other species are very sensitive. So maybe that’s
and just looks less ugly. And I think in cases like that,
the solution. So I don’t know if that’s a good answer, but
enrichment either isn’t enough or it’s given too late
it’s the best that I can think of.
and changes have happened in the animal’s brain and
Yes, you just gave me the exact answer I was looking
it’s too late then to have a good effect. So for a really
for. Thank you.
successful enrichment it needs to be good enough for
Audience 4:
the animal and it needs to happen early, at an early
Are the zoos in your country private, or public?
stage before it gets too fixed. Does that answer your
Dr. Mason:
question?
Well, I have two countries because I am English
Dr. Ueno:
and I live in Canada. So in Great Britain, the zoos are
There may be more questions, but let’s wrap this up
a mixture of privates and some owned by the city.
for now and move on to the next presentation.
And I’m less sure about Canada, because I don’t really
Dr. Ueno:
understand the country yet, but most zoos are operated
How do scientists relate with zoos?
as businesses as though they are private enterprises.
Dr. Mason:
Audience 4:
Collecting scientific data in zoos is challenging , and
So do you think that’s the main reason that there are
I think that’s why it maybe does not happen enough.
such differences between the two countries? England
The challenges are, at each zoo there just very few
and Japan.
animals. So if you want to collect lots of data, you need
Dr. Mason:
to visit multiple zoos, and then that costs money. And
I honestly don’t know because that’s such a complex
sometimes if you’re lucky a scientific funding agency
question. And it’s questions about how people perceive
would pay, but if that isn’t the way things operate here,
animals, why people go to the zoos. I mean that’s a
and I don’t know, then the zoos have to pay. And then
deep question. I don’t think it’s just structural, I think it’
the question is, do the zoos want to pay to find out
s cultural.
that some of their animals are stressed? And that’s the
Audience 4:
problem. But I think you’re right; I think it’s important
So you think it’s not that simple. Okay, I got it. Thank
husbandry must be objective, it must be based on
you.
evidence, or the same mistakes get ignored over and
over again and they happen over and over again. Most
of the problems with zoo animals are solvable, but they’
re solvable by looking at things objectively. And for that
I think you’re right; you need data. And that’s all I can
say. I agree.
28
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
上野動物園における環境エンリッチメントの先駆的試み
A Pioneering Attempt at Environmental Enrichment at Ueno Zoological Gardens
堀　秀正　恩賜上野動物園 飼育展示課　東園飼育展示係長
Hidemasa HORI　Curator of the East Garden, Ueno Zoological Gardens
[Slide 1] I’d like to talk about
feed on and therefore have to cover a wide area to find
something that took place about
it which means they spend most of their day feeding.
10 years ago when environmental
enrichment was gradually beginning
Now, if we compare this situation with the pandas
to be recognized in Japan.
at Ueno Zoo. [Slide 7] We were feeding our pandas
Many of you here today have
bamboo, as well as man-made foods, fruits, and
probably read “What Zoos Can Do”,
vegetables also. We had learned about this menu from
written by Hiroto Kawabata, published in March 1999.
Beijing Zoo in 1972, and had followed it faithfully ever
This book was written for the general public about zoos
since.
and animals, by someone who had nothing to do with
zoos. The concept of environmental enrichment became
The greatest difference between a panda in the wild and
widely known in Japan through this publication.
a panda in the zoo is that the latter does not have to
search for food. [Slide 8] Discussing which of the two is
[Slide 2] It was around this time, in April 1999, that I
happier is something we could talk about later - would
was assigned to care for the giant pandas at Ueno Zoo.
it be the panda spoon-fed all the various “goodies” or
There was a biologist visiting us from San Diego Zoo
the panda that spends all day looking for food, and only
who was studying animal behavior. It was her intention
bamboo food, at that? Different values become essential
to observe how Ueno Zoo was caring for the giant
when considering what is best for the animal and its
panda in hopes of learning from our experience as we
well-being.
had cared for them for a long time. [Slide 3] However,
as she started making her observations, she found that
We believe that a scientific approach to animal
the panda was showing a lot of stereotypic behavior
husbandry is better for the animal. A safe environment
and its condition very poor. So the zoo staff along with
with no threat of predators may have its merits but it
the panda caretakers held a meeting with this biologist.
is also monotonous and lacks stimulus, [Slide 9]. That
She lectured to us on how the panda was cared for at
is understandable as even we, as humans, get bored
San Diego Zoo, giving us many examples and showing
without stimulus.
some videos. [Slide 4] She concluded by strongly
recommending that we introduce environmental
[Slide 10] So we decided to try feeding our pandas with
enrichment to improve the situation.
something called a “puzzle feeder”. The photo shows a
bamboo cylinder hanging down. [Slide 11] The bamboo
Let us look again at how pandas live in the wild. [Slide 5]
is eight to ten centimeters in diameter and cut so that
According to George Schaller’s study, 99% of a panda’s
the ends are closed. A triangular opening has been
diet consists of bamboo. Of course, we were well aware
sawed into it, and small pieces of sugar cane placed
of this fact and were feeding our pandas bamboo.
inside. This bamboo is then given to the panda and the
[Slide 6] But in the wild, pandas spend more than half
panda feeds on the sugar cane pieces one by one as
their day foraging for food and obviously the growth
they fall out. So it takes a much longer time to eat.
of bamboo varies in the wild. There are also bamboo
shoots, soft leaves, etc. So the pandas in the wild are
We thought the panda would kick the bamboo cylinder
spending their time searching for the right bamboo to
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
29
around with its front paws, and eat the sugar cane
not enrichment but harassment. Others have criticized
pieces as they happened to fall out. [Slide 12] But as
the practice by suggesting that the panda is now being
the photograph shows, the panda held the cylinder
forced to perform tricks to entertain visitors. (It does
with both front paws, stuck its nose to the opening
turn out that visitors are thrilled to see these lovable
and turned the bamboo around. When a piece fell out
animals in action).
the panda would catch it with his mouth, lay down the
bamboo, and then hold the sugar cane with one front
So our primary objective was completely misunderstood,
paw while chewing on it. After finishing one piece, the
as indeed was the concept of environmental enrichment
panda would eat the next piece by repeating the same
which of course has nothing to do with showing visitors
action. We had not expected that the panda would feed
interesting animal behavior. Being able to observe more
like this.
interesting behavior is only an incidental result of the
enrichment program. When we started this enrichment
In the wild, pandas sometimes push down a length of
program ten years ago, visitors were so entertained
bamboo about a meter tall. They hold the wide end with
that only this aspect was highlighted, even through
their front paws, and then turn the bamboo around to
the media. Consequently the term ‘environmental
peel off the skin to feed on it. I came to understand this
enrichment’ became better known, and may have
behavior sometime later when I saw pandas in the wild
encouraged some other zoos to take it up, yet, the true
eating this way in a National Geographic documentary.
purpose and meaning have been misunderstood over
I thought it was a unique trick but actually it wasn’t.
the years. I may have had something to do with that
misunderstanding and perhaps I have some feelings
Let us watch a movie clip showing the panda’s outdoor
of guilt, so that is why I have talked about it today
cage. We fed the panda bamboo, as well as the bamboo
and reflect on what happened. It will be interesting
cylinders. The smaller bamboo cylinders were packed
to compare our program with the Higashiyama Zoo
with sugar cane so that the panda had to peel away the
enrichment program which will follow. Thank you for
bamboo to get to it. Animals savor sweet foods and it is
listening.
the same with pandas. When the panda finds the sugar
cane filled bamboo, it tosses away the regular bamboo
it was eating and gets to work on accessing and eating
the sugar cane. It is not forced to eat the cane, but it
chooses to do so, even though it takes more time and
effort. As I previously mentioned, this behavior is
similar to the way pandas feed in the wild. We feed the
pandas 500 grams of sugar cane at one time and, using
this feeding method, the eating process takes double
the time it used to. This may not be much but it is a
small step closer to the wild pandas behavior.
However, some zoo staff have been critical of the new
feeding method. Firstly, our vet said that the panda
could stab its eye when the sugar cane falls out of the
cylinder. I counter-argued that pandas have sufficient
natural reflexes to instinctively shut their eyes. Some
felt sorry for the panda, claiming that it is stressful to
the animal - eating used to take such little time whereas
now it takes 20 minutes. Some have said that this is
30
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
【Slide 1】
【Slide 2】
【Slide 6】
【Slide 3】
【Slide 7】
【Slide 4】
【Slide 8】
【Slide 5】
【Slide 9】
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
31
【Slide 10】
【Slide 11】
【Slide 12】
32
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
アフリカゾウのエンリッチメントの実際
Feeding-Enrichment for African Elephants
鈴木哲哉　名古屋市緑政土木局　東山総合公園
Tetsuya SUZUKI　Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden,
Greenification & Public Works Bureau,Nagoya City Office
My name is Tetsuo Suzuki from the
Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden.
Sleeping room
for Kenny
So, I would like to go ahead and
show everybody what we, as a team,
actually do in the zoo.
Sleeping room for Chi
These are the elephants that are
currently being kept at the zoo.
Area for mudbathing
Concrete pillars
Room B
Room A
Passage
pool
Passage for visitors
Feeding-Enrichment for
African Elephants, Also
Japanese Cranes
【Slide 3】
Tetsuya Suzuki,
Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical
Garden
African Elephant Team
【Slide1】
Elephants being
kept at the zoo
【Slide 4】
[slide 4]
C h i , m a l e , 3 4 y e a r s o l d Kenny, female, 36 years old
Came to the zoo in 1973 when she
(deceased June 9th, 2009)
was presumed to be 2 years old
【Slide 2】
Unfortunately, Chi, the male elephant passed away this
June. However, he will also come out in the video clips.
We also have Kenny, a female elephant that is 36 years
old.
[slide 2]
Environmental Enrichment
Enriching the lives of the animals in zoos based on the
lives of the animal in the wild
Extension of time for foraging in order to enrich the
lives of African elephants
Why?
African elephants spend 18 hours a day (75% of the
day) foraging for food.
It is impossible to make the environment in zoos the
same as the environment in the wild.
It is possible to make the condition as close as possible
to the wild.
Environmental enrichment, as everybody has been
saying, is to enrich the lives of animals in zoos. How
This is the facility where we keep the elephants.
can we enrich the lives of African elephants in zoos?
To the right is the area for exercising. We also have
First, we thought of extending the time for foraging.
sleeping rooms; we were using two rooms per elephant.
I think that some people are thinking, “why does
Currently, all four rooms are for females, and Kenny
extending the time for foraging enrich their lives?” The
uses them. [slide 3]
reason behind this is that African elephants in the wild
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
33
spend approximately 18 hours per day eating food.
Thus, eating is very important for African elephants.
It is impossible to make the environment the same as
that in the wild. There is no way we can bring in a
savannah, but by using enrichment, the same condition
can be created to an extent. [slide 4]
Method to Extend Time for Foraging 2
Carry out different types of environmental enrichments
・Have 30 types of enrichments in both the rooms and the
outdoor area
・Change the menu everyday in order to prevent the
animals from losing interest
【Slide 7】
Method to Extend Time for Foraging 1
Increasing the number of times the animals are
fed
Dividing meals to be fed 7-8 times a day.
【Slide 5】
Introduction of Environmental Enrichment
African Elephants
【Slide 8】
【Slide 6】
So, in order to extend the time, we simply increased
the number of times the elephants are fed. Until then,
we only fed the them approximately three times a day,
but currently we divide their meal so that they are fed
seven, eight, or rather close to ten times a day. The
【Slide 9】
elephants would have a maximum of an hour and a half
between meals when food is added. [slide 5] [slide 6]
This is the second method we take. We carry out a
variety of enrichments. In both the rooms and the
area for exercising, we currently have approximately
30 types of enrichments, and we carry out a variety of
these combinations. Elephants are intelligent animals,
so in order to prevent them from learning what we do
and thus losing interest, we try to change the menu
slightly every day. It also takes a lot of work to do
everything, so we pick out different options a bit by bit.
[slide 7]
34
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
【Slide 10】
First, we chop whole apples and carrots into small
pieces; the right and the left piles have the same
amount. First, we increased the number of feeding
stuff. This is the menu. There are a lot of options, but I
will skip this since it is too detailed. [slide 9] [slide 10]
This is how it is done. We place the chopped food on
top of the bars of the cages. We place the food in many
different spots like this. Then, Kenny looks for the food
with her nose. You can see that there is a carrot by the
side, and you can see how she searches for the food
with her nose to eat. Sometimes, I use the ladder to
【Slide 14】
hide the food in high places; I have a big smile on my
【Slide 11】
【Slide 15】
【Slide 12】
【Slide 16】
【Slide 13】
【Slide 17】
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
35
face here. This takes a lot of time and effort, so we do
this twice a week. [slide 11-14]
There is a moat, and we make a lot of glazing-bars
below the moat, and we place the food in this manner.
Above is the sleeping room for the elephants. The
elephants will stretch out its nose like this. The
elephants cannot see this area, so they would be relying
on the smell to search for the food with their noses.
[slide 17]
The pet bottle is being filled with food in this slide. It
is a bit embarrassing, but this is how it goes. [slide 18]
【Slide 21】
[slide 19]
【Slide 22】
【Slide 18】
【Slide 23】
【Slide 19】
It is a bit difficult to see, but there is a duct for the
fan, and food is being placed inside [slide 20].
We place things such as pet bottles and peanuts in
there. Then the elephants suck with their nose or blow
on it and take out the food a little by little to eat. We
sometimes put in raisins as well. [slide 21]
These are fire hoses, and they are filled with food.
There are about three sizes. We close one end of the
hose with a bolt to stuff the hose. When we do this, it is
a bit difficult to see. [slide 21] [slide 22]
Can you see that the elephant is holding a fire hose
【Slide 20】
36
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
with the tip of its nose? The hose contains hay cubes,
but the elephant flings around the hose like this to take
out the food to eat. [slide 24]
【Slide 27】
【Slide 24】
【Slide 28】
【Slide 25】
【Slide 29】
【Slide 26】
This is a mat made from the fire hose that I just
showed, and we stuff food into the space between
the hose. This is a cardboard box filled with hay and
chopped food. We do things such as placing it with the
lid closed. [slide 25] [slide 26].
This is a hemp sack. We simply put food inside the
hemp sack. This is a paper bag. Similarly, we put food
inside the paper bag as well. This is pasture grass, but
we wrap nets like these around the pasture grass. We
call this a straw doll; we tie the straw with rope made
【Slide 30】
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
37
from hemp and we put food inside the straw. Then the
and I remember having a difficult time retrieving it.
elephants rip this to take the food out to eat.
[slide 33] [slide 34] [slide 35]
This is a twig about as wide as a human arm with
[slide 27-30]
This is a bit difficult to do, so we have not done this
a diameter of no more than 10 centimeters. The
recently, but this is how we use the tire. We use the tire
as a place to hide food like this, not as a toy. [slide 31]
[slide 32]
This is the log. For logs with diameters over 20
centimeters, the elephants just peel the bark off to eat.
If the log is narrower, the elephants eat all of it. They
lift the log like this or shave the bark off with their
tusks to eat. After this, Chi dropped the log in the pool,
【Slide 34】
【Slide 31】
【Slide 35】
【Slide 32】
【Slide 33】
38
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
elephants will eat twigs like this. The elephants will
tear up all of the twig to eat it. Like this, if the twig is
large, the elephants will stretch it, break it, and make a
crunching sound as they eat it. [slide 37-] [slide 38]
When we get sugarcanes, this is how we give them to
the elephants. I think that the elephants are surprised
when their food tastes different. [slide 39]
We think that the elephants will be angry when we
keep on feeding them small potatoes, so we try to feed
them large ones every so often. The elephants really
like chocolate as well, so we buy chocolate like this to
give to them. [slide 40] [slide 41]
【Slide 39】
【Slide 36】
【Slide 40】
【Slide 37】
【Slide 41】
【Slide 38】
【Slide 42】
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
39
In this slide, food is being buried. When we do this,
Recently, the crows have become smarter, and they take
there is always a lady who calls us asking why we bury
the food that Kenny has left. So we also contribute a lot
the food. When this is broadcasted on television, we
to the enrichment of crows. [slide 45]
apologize every time. [slide 42]
This is a log feeder. This is what we were using until
a while ago; I think that you can tell that there is a small
hole, and that is where we stuff in a little bit of peanuts.
The one on this photo – this is a new one that we have
made recently – is shaped like a dice so that we can use
all six sides of the feeder. [slide 43]
The elephants roll the feeder like this to take out the
peanuts to eat. [slide 44]
【Slide 46】
【Slide 43】
【Slide 47】
This is log feeder number 3. It is long and narrow;
the elephants do not roll this, but instead, when food
is put into this the elephants lift it up with their noses,
bang it on the floor to shake out the peanuts, and eat
the peanuts that fall out. Thus, this one is used slightly
differently compared to the one I showed before this.
[slide 46]
This is used hanged, and this is similarly flung around
【Slide 44】
【Slide 45】
40
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
with the nose to get the food out. [slide 47]
【Slide 48】
Then, Kenny looks for the hidden food with her nose
like this. [slide 48] [slide 49]
In this slide, we are placing food in high places. This
is about 5 meters high, so the place is quite high up.
We caution each other as we do this saying that it is
dangerous if we fall off. The elephants stretch out their
noses and search for food as they eat. The elephants
cannot see this area, so they search very carefully like
this. [slide 50-52]
【Slide 49】
【Slide 53】
【Slide 50】
【Slide 54】
【Slide 51】
【Slide 55】
We tie pasture grass like this with hemp ropes. If the
【Slide 52】
We hide the hay cube in dents on the wall like this.
pasture grass is long, there is a ladder here so we place
the grass inside the ladder. [slide 53] [slide54]
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
41
This is a pool of rice straw. The elephants seldom eat
the straw, so we hide things like apples in this way. This
is the place where we provide drinking water. We have
two drinking areas for the elephants, so sometimes, we
do not touch one area and flavor the other with things
such as honey, salt, and also mud. We try to change the
flavor of the water. [slide 55][slide 56]
This is just rice straw. The elephants will eat it if you
feed them this once every so often, so we sometimes try
to change the flavor with things such as different types
of dried hay and twigs of trees that they do not usually
【Slide 59】
eat. Here, we chopped cabbage and scattered it on
purpose. [slide 57-59]
Slide 60】
【Slide 56】
【Slide 61】
【Slide 57】
This is our newest equipment called log blocks. We
have a lot of sliced log pieces, and we stick in food
between the pieces of logs. Then the elephants use
their forehead or noses to lift the log up to take out the
food. Here, you can see a little bit of something like a
carrot. We fix this once during lunch and once in the
evening – twice a day – but it takes a lot of effort. [slide
60] [slide 61]
This is a video of the area for exercising. I am
going to pause the video for a second, but right now,
the elephant is using its nose to look for food. The
【Slide 58】
42
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
characteristic of the elephants in our zoo, as people
from other zoos tell us, is that they are laid back and
dropped its food, but nowadays, the elephant skillfully
that they move slowly. The elephants move slowly
picks its food up. This day, we placed the food high up,
like this as they search for food. Here, the elephant is
so the elephant is also stretching its nose to reach up
looking for food on top. [slide 62]
and search. The video will continue like this, so I am
The video continues like this, so I will skip the rest.
going to go ahead and skip it. [slide 63]
Next is a slide regarding the recent condition of the
indoor area. This is also a video. We also put effort
into being creative indoors, like we do for the outdoor
area. Here, right now, the elephant is sucking out food
from the duct and eating it. First, the elephant sucks
out food placed in the area that it can reach. When the
elephant can no longer reach for the food, the elephant
starts releasing and eats the food making a rolling
sound. Food is also hidden in the area where the door
is, and here, the elephant is looking for it with its nose.
This is inside the duct. I think that you can see a pet
bottle. It is around the nose. In a while the elephant
will release it. We carry out enrichment in many
places, but generally we always have hay ready for the
elephants so that they can eat it any time whenever
they want to and so that they can eat as much as they
want. Here, right now, the elephant is picking up the
stuff on the ground. At first, the elephant frequently
【Slide 64】
[slide 64]
Evaluation through observation of behavior
Method
・Evaluating the behavior of Chi and Kenny through
observation in the area where they are let out.
・The observation of the behavior was conducted by
trained guide volunteers of the zoo.
・The method of observation was a one minute time
sampling. One session was one hour, and observation
was conducted randomly regardless of the weather.
・The goal was to observe their behavior over 10 hours
per month.
・Data was collected from November 2005 to October
2006, a one year period.
・For the purpose of comparison, the behavior during
feeding time without enrichment (once, twice) was also
observed.
【Slide 62】
【Slide 65】
We conducted many things in this way, and with the
cooperation of Dr. Ueno, we conducted an evaluation
through an observation of their behavior. Here, I am
only going to show the part in the area for exercising,
because this is where it is the easiest to see the
observation of the behavior being conducted. We
also had the volunteers of the zoo cooperate. We
summarized the data collected over a one year period.
【Slide 63】
[slide 64]
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
43
For comparison, we also looked at the feeding time
Experiment Having
One Feeding Time
without enrichment. We observed the elephant being
fed once and twice – both the same amount of food.
We researched the behavior of the elephants in these
situations as well. This is a scene where a volunteer is
observing the elephant. [slide 65]
As a result, putting aside the details, if you can take
a look at the part that says “foraging” and “searching”
you can see that the elephants were observed to exhibit
these behaviors approximately 73% to 75% of the time.
[slide 66]
【Slide 67】
Dangling nose
Turning in circles
Dangling nose
Turning in circles
Rubbing ground
with feet
Hurling oneself
Exploring things
Sand bathing
Self-assertive
behavior
Searching
Foraging/drinking
Moving around
and dangling its nose, were exhibited frequently.
Standing still
that stereotypic behaviors, such as turning in circles
Stretching nose
was exhibited over 50% of the time, but you can see
Swaying vertically
experimental purposes, with Chi foraging/searching
Swaying sideways
When the elephants were only fed once for
[slide 67]
This is the results when we had two feeding times.
You can see that the elephants were feeding/foraging
48% and 32% of the time. As a result, when comparing
the conditions of having only one feeding time and
Results
Chi male
Kenny
female
【Slide 68】
【Slide 66】
Rubbing ground with
feet
Hurling oneself
Exploring things
Sand bathing
Self-assertive behavior
Searching
Foraging/drinking
Moving around
Standing still
Stretching nose
Swaying vertically
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
Swaying sideways
Hurling oneself
Exploring things
Sand bathing
Self-assertive behavior
Searching
Foraging/drinking
Moving around
Standing still
Stretching nose
Swaying vertically
Swaying sideways
44
[slide 68]
Experiment Having Two Feeding Times
【Slide 69】
Summary
・It is said that African elephants in the wild spend
18 hours a day (75%) foraging.
・It is difficult to make a simple comparison, but
with the activities that we engaged in and the
observation method that we used, we were able to
have the elephants search and forage for 73.4% to
75.5% of the time.
・Environmental enrichment has the effect of
extending the time for searching and foraging.
・It also became clear that it has the effect of
decreasing stereotypic behaviors.
【Slide 70】
[slide 70]
Summary of results
Top: enrichment carried out
Middle: having one feeding time
Bottom: having two feeding times
having two feeding times, more stereotypic behaviors
were observed and the time taken for foraging was
shorter when we had two feeding times. So, having two
feeding times yielded results that were not so good. If
you would like to know more details, please ask Dr.
Ueno later. I think that this is a very interesting result.
[slide 68]
To summarize, African elephants in the wild spend
approximately 18 hours foraging. Keeping this in
mind, it is difficult to make a simple comparison,
but with the activities that we engaged in and the
observation method that we used, in the areas for
Enrichment other than “eating”
exercising, we were able to have the elephants foraging
for approximately 75% of the time, similar to the time
spent in the wild.
The results showed that environmental enrichment
has the effect of extending the time that African
【Slide 71】
elephants engage in searching and foraging. It also
One activity that is very important to the life rhythm
had the effect of decreasing the number of stereotypic
of the elephants in the zoo is mud bathing. We have
behaviors. [slide 69]
made mud bathing areas like this. The elephants – this
As you can see, this is the summary of the results.
is Kenny – bathe in the mud in this way in the area that
[slide 70]
we have created. The elephants are generally engaged
in this activity once every day throughout the year
whether it is winter or summer. The elephants bathe
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
45
like this and put mud on their stomachs. When the
elephants get excited, they lie down like this; I think
that when they do this, their backs look very sexy. [slide
72-76]
【Slide 72】
【Slide 76】
【Slide 73】
【Slide 77】
[slide 77]
The effects of mud bathing
・Breaks the bad habit of bathing in stool
・Prevents the skin from being dry in the winter
・Blocks direct sunlight in the summer
【Slide 74】
・Effect on exhibition
The elephants seem to be enjoying!
Can we also expect some effect on the mental state
of the elephants?
The following are the effects of mud bathing. Until
now, the elephants had a bad habit of rubbing their
own stool onto their bodies, but by monitoring the
area for mud bathing throughout a year, this bad habit
disappeared. In the winter, this prevents the skin
【Slide 75】
from drying up. In the summer, it helps the elephants
deal with the heat. Also, from the perspective of the
46
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
visitors, the dynamic movement of the elephants is very
effective. [slide 77]
【Slide 82】
【Slide 78】
【Slide 83】
【Slide 79】
Putting these points aside, the elephants seem to be
enjoying themselves. So I think that we can also expect
some effects from the aspect of the mental state of
the elephants. Sometimes, the elephants are unable
to bathe in mud, because the zoo keepers need to
check the area for mud bathing, and on these days, the
elephants seem somewhat restless.
For mud bathing, we simply go to the mountains
to get mud, because the mud is consumed as the
elephants bathe in it. This takes a lot of effort. Other
than this, the elephants also bathe in sand like this.
【Slide 80】
The elephants also go into the pool like this to bathe in
water. The elephants soak completely into the water
like they are soaking in hot springs, and they look very
relaxed. [slides 78-83]
Other than this, we use this fire hose that is about a
little more than two meters long. Inside the hose is a
normal metal chain. The elephants take this and hit
their backs with it to itch their backs. It is not that
bad now, but in June, the skin of the elephants starts
peeling. There is a period where the skin molts. During
these periods it seems like the elephants feel itchy all
【Slide 81】
over, so you can see them often flinging this onto their
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
47
the music to African music. This is very upbeat.
backs as they move around.
[slide 85]
Other than this, for the purpose of exposing animals
to other smells, we place the stool of other animals.
To the left is the stool of a black rhinoceros; we place
things like this inside the exhibition of elephants. Also,
in the freezer is the stool of Asian elephants; it is frozen
for preparation. We sometimes place things like these.
[slide 86]
So what kind of effects does this have? This is where
Kenny is sniffing the material. She seems like she is
【Slide 84】
thinking hard, but we still have not figured out the
effect of this. [slide 87]
Listening to music
Music therapy?
【Slide 87】
【Slide 85】
Currently, we also have the elephants listen to music.
There is such a thing as music therapy, but in our zoo,
we often have the animals listen to the radio. This is
done to have the animals get use to the sound from
outside or to shut out the sound from outside. We were
Interaction with people (communication)
also using the radio for the African elephants, but we
・Touching
heard that Mozart was good for music therapy, and we
decided to try Mozart. So, we started playing Mozart.
However, Mozart was very unpopular, so we changed
【Slide 88】
We are currently putting a lot of effort into interaction
Exposing animals to smells
with people and communication. We value simply
touching the elephants. This is because, especially
now, we only have one female elephant. For African
elephants that live in herds in the wild, it is very
stressful to live alone. Being in charge of the elephant, I
frequently feel that elephants should not be kept alone.
However, since we have only one elephant, I want the
zoo keepers to cover for this and heal her.
【Slide 86】
48
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
I have heard that simply touching the animal is good
for animals that live together. So we include training
for touching, and we do training for the purpose of
Japanese crane sticks its head into the water like this to
touching them. We also increase the number of times
look for the fish. [slides 91-94]
that the elephant interacts with people in such ways
Releasing live fish into
the pool
like increasing times that the elephant is hand fed. In
the future, we would like to increase the interaction
with the elephant through training
Enrichment of Japanese cranes
【Slide 91】
Cho-san male
Born June 1995 at Higashiyama Zoo
The crane is fed pellets for cranes, britt, lake smelt, and Komatsuna (Brassica
campestris var. peruviridis) once a day
【Slide 89】
Next, if I have some time, I would like to move on to
talk about Japanese cranes.
This is the Japanese Crane that we keep at our zoo,
and this is the video clip of the crane.
This is before enrichment was carried out. There is
food, fish, britt, pellets, and Komatsuna, placed in one
corner, and mealworms, larvae of beetles, are scattered.
【Slide 92】
The crane is picking up the scattered mealworms. You
can see that there is nothing. So the crane was eating
like this. Even during its feeding time, the crane was
wondering around moving between the feeding area
and the drinking area. [slide 89]
So, this is what we did. First, we released live fish into
the pool. If we release live fish, the crane will catch it
immediately.
So we made places for the fish to hide by placing
blocks. So, the fish hide between the blocks, and the
【Slide 93】
I n t r o d u c t i o n o f
environmental enrichment
【Slide 90】
【Slide 94】
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
49
these gaps, so we thought that they would start digging
Scattering mealworms in leaves and on
the base of trees so that they would hide
if we placed a log with a small hole in it. So, we also
placed something like this. [slide 97] [slide 98]
Having the cranes dig the soil
【Slide 95】
A pool of leaves
【Slide 98】
Automated insect collector
【Slide 96】
We also decided to scatter mealworms in leaves and
on the base of trees so that they would hide. We also
made a pool of leaves.
【Slide 99】
When we scatter the mealworms onto the leaves, the
This has a really cool name to it, but what it does
Japanese crane digs through the leaves with its beak
is it collects insects and flies. We put elephant stool
to look for the mealworms hidden between the leaves.
inside this pet bottle. Then, we thought that it would
[slide 95] [slide 96]
attract flies and the crane would try to catch the flies.
Partition made with bamboo
However, the flies did not fly nicely, and it was not very
successful. [slide 99]
【Slide 97】
Until now, we were using partitions made with
wooden boards, but we changed these to partitions
50
【Slide 100】
made with bamboo. Japanese cranes love the small
This is the environment that was made by carrying
gaps, so they peck at the small gaps. Japanese cranes
out enrichment. I think that the exhibition looks better
dig the soil as well. Japanese cranes especially like
with the plants too. [slide 100]
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
END
【Slide 101】
【Slide 103】
I have a video clip here. Here, the crane is looking for
not a method of exhibition.
the scattered mealworms. I think the crane has better
So, enrichment is simply for the welfare of animals –
movement and has a face of a hunter now. Here, the
that is, it is what you do for the animals. Thus, because
crane is looking into the leaves.
enrichment is carried out for animals, it is not for the
Here, the crane is searching for the fish released into
visitors. So we must consider the parts that cannot be
the pool. The fish are hiding in small spaces, so the
seen by the visitors, such as the indoor areas where the
crane sticks its beak and looks for them. By carrying
visitors cannot see and the times when the zoo is not
out these enrichments, I hope that you can tell that
open like the holidays.
the movement of the crane has changed. We also
conducted behavior observation for this, but we are
unable to present the detailed results here.
I believe that I pay attention to these points when I
carry out enrichment.
So, if these aspects must be considered when thinking
As a result, the time the cranes foraged and searched
about enrichment, I would very much appreciate it if
for food increased. I cannot tell you how much the
the visitors could understand that these places behind
time extended. There was a drastic change in the time
the scenes are the important parts. This is because
the cranes took to rest, or when they are sleeping. The
the time that the visitors can see is at the most 8 hours
time was decreased by approximately 50%. I personally
during the time when the zoo is open; but we must be
thought that in cases of birds and Japanese cranes that
aware of the fact that the remaining 16 hours is longer
do not exhibit stereotypic behavior as much as other
than the time that the zoo is open.
species, the amount of time they take to sleep may
increase. [slide 101]
So, please understand that this time is necessary for
the animals.
No!
Enrichment
= Method of
Exhibition
Enrichment is carried out for the welfare of animals.
We need to consider all the 24 hours of their day.
What this means is that when designing a new area
for the animals, we may use a lot of money for the
indoor area or we may allot a lot of space for the indoor
areas where the visitors cannot see.
This is often the case, but I think that zoos in the
future will change in this way. I would like the
visitors to understand that this may be the case. The
Please understand that the environment that cannot be seen
from the public visitors (such as indoor areas) is important.
Everybody’s understanding will lead to the improvement of the welfare of
animals living in zoos.
【Slide 102】
understanding of everybody will change Japanese zoos
in the future; internationally speaking, zoos in Japan
are behind.
I think that the understanding of everybody will
So to summarize, enrichment is not the equivalent
improve the welfare of animals living in zoos. To
of exhibition methods. I think that enrichment is
summarize, I think that it is the understanding of
entertaining for the visitors as well, but enrichment is
everybody that will be the key to the improvement of
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
51
the welfare of the animals.
zoo keepers in charge of elephants gather. I present
My presentation may not have been very interesting,
what our zoo has done in meetings like this. A lot of
but you will find it more interesting if you look at the
the zoo keepers that have been in charge of elephants
actual elephant or the Japanese crane. So, please visit
have been in the post for a long time, but a lot of
the Higashiyama Zoo. Thank you.
these experienced zoo keepers and also the younger
generation are usually very interested in what we
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
do. They think that things we do are very good ideas,
Thank you very much.
and I hear them say that they want to engage in these
Are there any questions regarding the presentation?
activities.
Please.
○ Questioner
However, partly because of the effort it takes, these
activities cannot be done individually, and it needs to
I was able to understand that the zoo keepers at the
be done as a team. So I think in this way, it is spreading
Higashiyama Zoo are being very creative and putting a
on the individual level, but it is difficult to spread on
lot of effort into carrying out enrichment.
the organizational level. However, I think that this will
Is there something like a textbook, and is the idea
change from now on. Does that answer your question?
to use a model to develop what you are doing? Or
are you basing your activities on results of scientific
experiments like those of Dr. Mason, and are you
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
Are there any other questions? Can we move on?
applying the results in considering what types of
Then, let us take a 10 minute break and go into general
activities you are carrying out? This is my first
discussion. It is ten past right now so we would like to
question.
begin at twenty past. Thank you very much.
The other question that I have is regarding the
elephant that was in a poor condition; I think that it
was an elephant in Nogeyama Zoo. I live close by, and
I feel bad looking at an animal that has a wide range
Now it is time so we would like to start the general
discussion.
of activities being locked up in a small cage and going
As mentioned in the first part of the workshop, this
back and forth. There are these zoos on one hand, so I
workshop is on enrichment. However, this does not
think that models developed by zoos like Higashiyama
mean that the workshop only deals with the technical
that are putting effort into carrying out enrichment
aspects of enrichment. Issues regarding the welfare
should be spread to other zoos in Japan. Are there
of animals, the purpose of enrichment, and issues
any movements regarding this area, and are there any
regarding the method of exhibition also came up in
forces of resistance that becomes a barrier for such
the workshop. As Mr. Suzuki and Mr. Hori mentioned,
movements?
enrichment in itself is not a technique for exhibition.
○ Tetsuya Suzuki
Enrichment is a technique used for the purpose of
That is a very difficult question for me to answer.
improving the welfare of animals. However, this is
First of all, basically, there are no textbooks regarding
indivisible from techniques of exhibition, and it must
enrichment. I think that if you search, there are
be carried out as a set in zoos. Thus, enrichment must
theories, but as a person in practice, I think that
be carried out in close relation to exhibition. Also, for
cases should be considered case by case by looking
visitors, they do not necessarily need to be aware of
at the zoo, the practice, and the individual animal. I
the division; the fact that animals are behaving the way
think that consideration by people who see the actual
they should be is meaningful. There are three ways of
situation will be more effective. However, related to the
viewing enrichment based on this meaning. It would be
other question, I think that I would like to spread our
great if we can discuss our opinions and ideas from this
activities to other zoos.
perspective.
In Japanese zoos, there is an elephant meeting where
52
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
You can address your questions and comments to any
of the presenters. Please.
cats, but the media tend to broadcast very sensational
○ Questioner
stories or focus on the aspect of entertainment. So, I
I am sorry that I am asking a question again. I am
sometimes think that the famous zoo up in northern
very impressed by the word, enrichment for 24 hours,
Japan that the media picked up in their headlines is the
that Mr. Suzuki mention during the last part of the
reason why words such as enrichment and behavioral
presentation. I currently serve as a consultant of the
exhibition were misunderstood. The polar bear at that
Japan Animal Welfare Society. In the field of animal
zoo is still going around in circles on the exhibition
welfare, the reformation of zoos has been called for
island.
internationally by organizations such as WSPA. In
And Dr. Georgia Mason mentioned that an exhibition
these movements, the part regarding behind the scenes,
with 360 degrees panorama view is very stressful for
like the sleeping rooms of the animals, have been
the animals. But the exhibition of the orangutans that
often forgotten. There has been a case regarding the
they spend millions on is like a gallery, and the visitors
rescue of polar bears in Mexico where the animals were
can see all parts of the exhibition. When the media
spending long hours in sleeping rooms in appalling
pick up things like this, the public will think that this
conditions, and this case has been talked about often
is something good. I think that Mr. Hori, Mr. Suzuki,
among stakeholders of animal welfare. This is an
and Dr. Ueno have things they want to say or have said
example of enrichment for 24 hours.
regarding this issue, but I want to know if stakeholders
So, people involved in animals would like zoos to
use as much money as possible for places behind the
of zoos have ways that they can appropriately advertise,
for example in the media, what they are doing.
scenes. However, I think that zoos have the issue of
This is the first chance that I have had where this
allotting money during the process of budgeting and
many people from the general public could ask
planning, and I think that zoos have a lot of issues and
questions to people involved in zoos. I have asked
battles behind the scenes because of this. I believe that
questions individually to people such as Dr. Nakagawa
there are two issues at hand.
of Ueno Zoo, but this is the first time that I have been in
First, as my friend, Rob Laidlaw of Zoo Check Canada
says, zoos need to include a committee member who
a place where people involved in zoos expressed their
frank opinions and where I can ask for their opinions.
has the role of advocating for animals no matter what in
Do you think that these things are possible in the
decision making organizations for planning, managing,
future? What is the future prospective for discussions
and budgeting. Rob Laidlaw was saying that this was
like this between stakeholders of zoos and citizens who
very rare in zoos that he had observed, including those
want to reform zoos? I think that depending on the
in the United States and Europe. How is the situation
case, animal welfare organizations may help with the
regarding this issue in Japan, and is there a possibility
budget for enrichment through fundraising activities. I
that this could be accomplished in the future?
think that zoos have an atmosphere where it is difficult
Also, I think that probably, in a way, the bad guy is
for outsiders to enter, but where can these questions
the media. This is the same in the field of dogs and
be addressed to when considering issues like this, and
where can we make a breakthrough?
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
Mr. Hori, do you have any comments?
○ Hidemasa Hori
This is a very difficult question to start out with.
I think that it is difficult to understand the issue
without understanding the system of management and
operation of Japanese zoos, so I will begin by explaining
this. There is an organization called the Japan
Association of Zoos and Aquariums; this organization
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
53
is one of the cooperating organizations for this event.
nature of animals or have not considered how animals
The association currently has approximately 60 zoos in
should be. Most citizens are just satisfied, because it is
Japan who are members. Approximately 80% of these
fun to watch – that is, they have fun watching the lions
60 zoos are public facilities established by the local
and the elephants. They are not aware of the lives of
authorities. To put it shortly, these zoos are outposts of
the animals behind the scenes. Hence, zoos have to
governments. So people working in these facilities are
communicate to the citizens the lives of the animals
government officials. We are government officials of
behind the scenes, and it is not nice for the visitors to
the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and Mr. Suzuki is
have to imagine a stressful life, but the visitors should
a government official of Nagoya City.
also sense that these animals are living. I think that
B e c a u s e o f our posit ions, there are ru l e s o f
confidentiality where we are not allowed to release
should be made based on this awareness.
information that we acquired through our duties. This
Of course, we are also grateful if citizens could collect
becomes a considerable restriction. When we speak in
money in the form of fundraising, but before that, I
the open, perhaps parts of our presentation may violate
think that it will be more effective if citizens can voice
rules of confidentiality. So one issue we have is that
their opinions regarding the meaning of zoos, the
there are no clear standards concerning the range that
current situation of animals living there, and the ideal
the rules of confidentiality apply to.
situation of the animals. I think that movements like
Also, there are considerable discrepancies in how zoos
this will most effectively serve as a momentum. Did
are viewed between people who deal with the animals
that answer your question?
on the site, such as zoo keepers and veterinarians,
○ Questioner
and the people in the city offices who are in charge
The reason why I asked that question was that
of the management and the operation of the zoos.
actually, although there are ups and downs, the number
The governors of Nagoya and Tokyo, for example, are
of visitors of zoos is gradually decreasing. The issue is,
people chosen as representatives through direct votes
among the voices that I hear around me, the number of
of the citizens, thus theoretically the opinions of the
people that do not go because they don’t want to see
government represent those of the citizens. When
the animals in that condition is increasing.
applying this logic, if the city government thinks that
So there are people that do not go because they
zoos should be fun amusement parks, and if they
do not want to see the animals. If this was the case
say that this is the image of zoos that citizens want,
of Disneyland, people can simply stop operating the
theoretically, this opinion should be the reflection of
machines and just turn off the switches, but you cannot
what the citizens are thinking.
do this with animals in zoos. Then, zoos would have to
So, I think that the interests of the local authorities
use just as much money to keep the animals alive even
regarding zoos and the animals that live in them and
if the number of visitors decreases, and this becomes
their awareness of the issue become very important
a vicious cycle. Maybe this is already happening, but I
factors in shaping zoos.
have a sense of crisis that this may happen.
Along these lines, I think that conferences like this
So, my dilemma is how to spread the fact that there
will have an impact, and I think that it is meaningful
are people in zoos that want to reform the system in
for people in positions like ourselves to come out and
this way. That is, my dilemma is how to appeal in order
speak out frankly to an extent.
to convince the people who are saying that they won’
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
t go, without being belligerent. On the other hand,
I will speak from the perspective of a person in a post
the media has the tendency to look for entertainment,
on the level of management. As Mr. Hori said, many
such as chasing the lesser panda that stands on its hind
Japanese zoos are public, so they are indeed vulnerable
legs. My current dilemma is how to go about doing this
to the voices of the citizens.
amidst these strong tendencies of the media.
The first issue is that citizens do not understand the
54
it is most important for the citizens to voice that zoos
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
results of scientific experiments set by Dr. Mason. For
If we say that, as I have explained in the beginning,
example, if we can spread the information that certain
the role of zoos would start to change. Zoos would
conditions increase the stress hormones in animals and
have to become educational facilities that give people
certain measures taken decrease the stress hormones,
opportunities to consider issues regarding the earth
I think that people can discuss what measures to take
and the environment. Zoos would need to be creative
based on this knowledge. If people can cooperate
and put their efforts into how to communicate such
with places like Higashiyama Zoo that are putting out
messages. I think that there are many ways and levels
results to get a synergetic effect and make that into one
to do this; for example, messages can be communicated
movement, I think that we can make some changes.
through the handling of animals like Mr. Suzuki
So to put it shortly, my question is why people are not
is doing, or zoos can be creative to communicate
making use of scientific results in Japan, to clearly point
messages as an entire facility. Zoos should consider
out the direction that people should be heading toward,
this, but nevertheless, I also think that the media is an
because there are a lot of scientific results in developed
issue.
countries.
The media seldom focus on the true role of zoos; they
always focus on the entertaining aspects. We would
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
How do you think scientists should be involved with
like the media to focus on us in different ways. In order
zoos?
for this to happen, I think that the quality of the citizens
○ Georgia Mason
needs to be raised, although I think that I am being too
It is very challenging to compile scientific data in
tough by saying that citizens should be increasing their
zoos. It takes a lot of money to collect data in each zoo
knowledge independently.
with a limited number of animals. If there is a fund for
○ Questioner
these scientific activities, zoos may be able to procure
This is a comment regarding this discussion, but I
money from there, but normally zoos would have to pay
think that the key is that we need a scientific approach.
the costs. It is the matter of whether zoos would pay
There are zoos like Higashiyama Zoo that are being
to put their animals in a stressful position like that. So,
creative and putting out results, but on the other hand
I think that you are right that this is very important.
there are zoos that really make you wonder whether
Of course we have to base our practice on evidence.
they are considering the welfare of animals at all. You
Otherwise, it leads to ignorance.
mentioned that there are limitations, because the
I do agree with you that we must base ourselves on
stakeholders of zoos are public servants, but there are
data in order to look at the issue objectively and to put
places that are actually putting out results, so those
out results regarding animals. Generally, my opinion is
can be spread as model cases. You also mentioned that
that I agree with what you said.
those working for the local authorities should have
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
more awareness.
Because I was at a university, I will speak from
Also, you mentioned how the level of citizens, who
the perspective of universities. In the case of Japan,
vote for representatives in local authorities, need to
throughout our history, people have not recognized
be raised. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak
zoo animals as research subjects. Of course, as it was
with Mr. Nakata, the ex-governor of Yokohama City,
just mentioned, the sample is not big enough when we
and I exchanged opinions with him regarding issues
consider zoo animals as research animals. Because
on animal welfare. He said that he did not see the
of this, researchers tend to think that it is better to
issue that way. There are citizens on many levels,
conduct research on wild animals or the research
but people are not making their judgments based on
should use controlled animals kept in laboratories as
scientific facts. People simply see the transient aspect
subjects if the idea is the same as animal experiments.
like the aspect of entertainment and the cuteness of the
So for a long time, zoo animals have been thought
animals. I think that we should follow the example of
to be unrelated to research. However, in reality,
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
55
understanding zoo animals is meaningful, because it
understanding on them. In this sense, I think that
may lead to the understanding of animals in the wild;
professional researchers need to break them down into
also, as mentioned previously, zoos exist as facilities to
pieces to explain the contents. I think that researchers
communicate messages. So I think that we can increase
need to put more effort into these activities.
the value of zoos by handling animals in a more
I have hosted many study groups regarding zoos that
appropriate way based on scientific evidence, as you
include the general public. I think that study groups
mentioned.
like what we are doing right now can be used to put
In this way, I think that researchers should focus
more on zoos. However, in Japan, I think that this has
still not happened.
○ Questioner
What is the best way to take a step forward for actual
○ Questioner
For example, I think that the research results from
Guelph University should be spread to the general
public in Japan, because I think that these are very
action? I think that everybody here agrees that a
good studies. Don’t you think so?
scientific approach is necessary.
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
Yes, as I have said just now, I think so too.
Researchers and students have long ignored zoos.
So, because I agree with you opinions, I am hosting
However, the number of young researchers using zoos
study groups in many different forms and I accept
as their field is increasing. So if these researchers
invitations for lectures to speak about these issues. In
give feedback to the zoos and a cycle like that starts
this manner, researchers are putting effort into this too.
to develop, we can also get results like Dr. Mason
○ Questioner
presented. If results like that are returned to zoos,
So what I have been talking about is already being
it can lead to things like what Mr. Suzuki and Mr.
conducted.
Hori presented. They were initially not connected
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
to researchers, but they had communication with a
As I have been saying, there are not many researchers,
researcher in San Diego who recommended them to
especially in Japan. I think that even in other countries,
carry out enrichment. This is how the enrichment
there are not many researchers who use zoos as their
of the giant pandas started. If this type of cycle gets
fields. But compared to other countries, Japan has
started, I think that zoos would improve.
even fewer researchers. There are probably less than
○ Questioner
ten researchers who use zoos as their main field. If we
I think that in Japan when the young students become
include students, the number will slightly increase.
researchers the research results would start to be
Thus, because we are trying to do this with a small
publicized. Also, for the already existing model cases
population, there are many areas where we need to
we need a place that disseminates the information and
put more effort into. So it is not that we are not doing
we need to spread the research results to the general
anything.
public. When this is done, we can grasp the current
○ Questioner
situation objectively, and we can see what is necessary
So, we are still unclear about what actions need to be
to improve the situation. So do you think that private
taken to make the actual improvement. To me, it seems
organizations should take the role of disseminating
like you are saying that it simply takes time. Is this
research results and information regarding already
correct?
existing model cases in other developed countries?
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
Regarding research, I think that the citizens are very
studious so there is no problem in disseminating the
information. However, it is difficult for citizens to
read research papers themselves and gain a profound
56
effort into publicizing the information.
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
It will take time.
○ Questioner
So in a sense, we have to let time solve the issue?
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
No, it is not simply letting just time solve the issue.
○ Questioner
that the visitors are also looking for smell and the
Since we have so many people gathered with the
excitement that we can share with the animal – that is,
same level of awareness, this opportunity should be
the fact that there is something living just like us, on
used to take action. To me, it seems like you are saying
the other side of the fence. To get this sensation, we
that this is the flow, so the situation will improve as
have to go to zoos, because it is impossible to go to the
time passes.
actual site, like places in Africa, where the wild animals
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
actually live.
No, I am not saying that. We are not letting just time
So as a person from the general public, I would like
solve the issue, but it is a fact that the population is
to feel the smell in zoos, and even if you cannot see
very small. Thus, it is true that it will take a long time.
the actual animal, I would like to have a guide who is
If we want to take quick action, the citizens need to
somebody like a professional animal behaviorist. And
put effort into solving the issue as well; we need both
I would like the guide to explain, for example, that the
sides of the party to serve as two wheels to accelerate
animal is on the other side of the barrier and if you
the action. At this stage it is a bit difficult for just the
listen carefully, you may be able to hear the animal
researchers to try to move everything forward.
snore. I think that explanations like this would be
Staff in charge of conference room: Since there are
enough to get the children that I take to zoos excited. I
many other people here today, so if there are any
think that placing guides like that will also bring out the
questions or comments, this is your opportunity now.
issue of budgeting again, but I think that this would be
○ Questioner
enough to satisfy the visitors.
Thank you.
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
As you mentioned, I think that we should not ask the
stakeholders of zoos to do everything. I think that we,
No problem.
citizens, are responsible for being educated that animals
○ Questioner
are not all about seeing the actual thing and that they
I am involved in the field of education, and I really
are living things that share a lot with us. It would be
like animals too, so when I go places, including places
great if visitors of zoos can visit to learn these invisible
abroad, I always go to zoos. I was at the Melbourne
aspects of animals. Zoos are the only ones that can play
Zoo in Australia most recently. There, I was only able
this role, so I would like the zoos to take on this role; I
to see about 30% of the animals that I really wanted to
think that the role of the citizens is education. We need
see. If the same thing happened in Japan, I think that
to be more knowledgeable, and we are the ones that
especially family visitors would go home upset, because
have to take action to change to media.
they could not see what they had wanted to. There
The special television programs on animals are
was a discussion on the power of media, but the media
appalling. They only increase vested interests. I think
also sends messages that it is the sole important thing
that we need more education, and as a citizen, I feel
to actually see the animal, and they ignore all other
responsible for this. I would like to thank everybody
aspects.
for the meaningful discussion.
I forgot the name of the animal that I wanted to see;
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
I think it was something that lived in the Himalayas. I
Regarding guides that are in charge of the explanation
was there for about an hour, but I did not get to see
of animals, currently, many zoos have the cooperation
the actual animal. The only thing I saw was a flash of
of volunteers to serve as guides.
its eyes on the other side of the bush, but I was very
Also, about supporting the invisibility of animals –
impressed. So what I am thinking is that if the only
most of the times, the visitors do not agree. Mr. Suzuki,
purpose of zoos were to see the actual animals and to
from the perspective of practice, what do you think
exhibit the animals so that the visitors can see them, I
about this?
think that zoos would not be necessary, because now
○ Tetsuya Suzuki
we have virtual technologies that can do that. I think
From the perspective of a person involved in practice,
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
57
it helps to have places where animals cannot be seen
learn that animals are the same as us. For example,
from the visitors. However, one of the reasons why
when we see a sleeping animal, we learn that animals
we keep animals in zoos is that we want to send out
also get tired. Through this, we learn respect, welfare,
messages regarding the animals. That is, we want
and empathy. I think that zoos are places where we
the visitors to see the attractiveness of the animals –
learn these things. I think that in this sense, zoos teach
elephants or Japanese cranes, or whatever the animal
us a lot of things. I wish good luck for everybody
is. Thus, in this sense, I have doubts regarding the
involved in zoos.
invisibility of animals. Also, speaking from Japanese
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
values, I am not sure if people will accept not being
able to see the animals. So, I think that my approach is
to keep the exhibition so that the visitors have visible
access to animals and to do whatever we can within this
parameter. Does that answer your question?
○ Questioner
Thank you for the valuable lecture. I am a student
from Osaka Prefecture University.
There are not many people in our university who
Also, there are professional guides, and I think
are interested in zoos. We only have a few people
that hearing from an animal behaviorist would be
like this, but there are people who want to get
interesting. However, I think that it is most interesting
involved. However, currently we are only engaged in
for the visitors to hear from people like zoo keepers
holding study groups and sometimes participating in
who are actually involved in practice. I think this would
symposiums. Are there plans on the side of zoos to use
be fun for children as well, so please catch a person like
students interested in zoos to do something together?
that to ask things. I think a lot of people working on
It would be easier for students to start an activity if
the site like to tell stories, and there are very few people
zoos can tell us what kinds of things they are looking
who do not like to talk; so it would be great if visitors
for. Please let me know if you have anything in mind.
could make use of these people.
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
What do you think about not being able to see the
animals?
○ Georgia Mason
Do you have anything to say, Mr. Hori?
○ Hidemasa Hori
For example, if I wanted to do something with the
students individually, there are many organizational
It is very difficult for me to comment; I think that we
constraints, and it would be very difficult. Thus,
should respect the choice of the animals when they do
unfortunately, many people give up doing anything at
not want to be seen. Of course, it is a wonderful thing if
this point. These constraints from the system get in the
the animals want to be seen, and people go to zoos for
way more than you can imagine.
this reason. However, if the animals do not want to be
58
Are there any other questions and comments?
Also, the concept of welfare has been mentioned, but
seen, I think that we should not force them to be seen.
I think that this concept had not existed throughout
So, I think that sometimes, zoos have to say, “I am sorry,
Japanese history. We have the word, “aigo” meaning
but the animals also have their privacy.” Some species
“animal protection.” I think that this concept did not
can be very sensitive, while others do not mind being
exist in Europe. I think that the concept of “abuse
seen. I think that this is an important point to consider.
prevention” exists in western cultures but the concept
If animals do not want to work, and if the animals
“aigo” does not exist. Until a while ago, there was a
want to take a nap, I think that their choices should be
word in Japanese, “inu-chikusho” meaning “dogs and
respected.
beasts”. I think that this is a difficult word to translate
○ Questioner
into English. It is a word that expresses the view that
I think that you have given me the answer that I
animals are lower beings compared to humans, and
was looking for. I forgot to say this when I asked the
the view that animals therefore should not deserve
question, but I think that when we share the experience
as much as humans. For example, even now, people
with animals, they are not simply for watching, but we
from the older generation do not like it when we use
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
the expression, to “give” food to animals. You do not
not get any budget or personnel for these purposes,
“give” to animals you “feed” them. I think that these
and people think that research and education are not
cultural backgrounds and the social psychological
jobs to be taken on by zoos in the first place. So, zoos
aspects intertwine in a complicated way to affect our
do not have organizational structures that can welcome
relationship with animals. Thus, it is very difficult to
students unconditionally. This is the constraint that I
clearly answer why we cannot take a scientific approach
was talking about; we can only work with students if it
with our management of animals.
does not inhibit our duties. It is very difficult to actively
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
engage in research and education in collaboration with
Did that answer your question? We are going over
time, but we can stay for a little while, so we can take
some more questions.
○ Questioner
I am a third year student at the Nippon Veterinary
and Life Science University.
universities.
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
I think that we can take one more question.
○ Questioner
I am a faculty at a pet academy.
Listening to the lectures on enrichment, I thought
It may be impolite for a student to ask questions, but
that people here are actively engaged in such activities.
Mr. Hori just mentioned that he actually considered
However, I think that there are differences depending
doing something with students at the zoo. I would like
on where the zoos are located and how interested
to know what kind of activities you were considering.
the zoos are. I think that some zoos are carrying out
○ Hidemasa Hori
enrichment, while others are not.
Before coming to Ueno Zoo, I was at an aquarium
As mentioned in the beginning, people suggested Ueno
for a long time. I was at an aquarium for seven year.
Zoo that they make improvements because pandas were
At that time, there was a student who wanted to
expressing stereotypic behaviors. Like this, in Japanese
conduct a research with zoo animals for their senior
zoos, are zoos able to make suggestions to other zoos
thesis. I was in charge of the penguins then, so I
in their vicinity? If this is already done, I would like to
suggested that the students do a research on vocal
know how it is done.
communication of penguins – that is, communication
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
of information through their voices. I exchanged
Do you mean the details of the kind of enrichments
opinions with the professor of these students, and
that are carried out?
we talked about conducting such research for three
○ Questioner
years using three students. This is how I collaborated
I mean, how methods of enrichments are being
with the students. We were able to make this happen,
communicated. What kinds of activities there are to do
because the professor recognized that collaborating
this.
with an aquarium was valuable from the perspective of
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
research and education. As it was mentioned earlier,
As Mr. Suzuki mentioned, like the zoo keepers in
some people think that animals kept by people are
charge of the elephants, zoo keepers in charge of
inappropriate and lack value as research subjects for
different animals would have places where they can
biology, so I think that the attitude of the researchers
gather with their own kind to exchange opinions, so
and educators play a big role in making something like
these meetings will be opportunities for these activities.
this happen.
However, as ment ioned previously, even if the
On the other hand, zoos in Tokyo are under the
individual is interested and wants to carry it out, that
Department of Greenificat ion in the Bureau of
does not necessarily mean that the zoo would accept
Construction, in Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Thus,
the suggestion from the individual to carry it out. So
the management and the operation of zoos fall under
I think that in current conditions, it would be difficult
parks and greenification. So education and research
to spread the activities – that is, it would be difficult
have nothing to do with zoos. Because of this, we do
for zoos to copy what is putting out results in other
Workshop Ⅱ Zoo Improvement/Enrichment
59
zoos and as a result, spreading the activity in this way.
Please.
○ Questioner
Dr. Mason, are the zoos in your country private or
Thus, the issue becomes how we understand animals
from this perspective. We need to develop our culture
into one in which we can consider our responsibilities
public?
of understanding animals as citizens and human beings.
○ Georgia Mason
This is how I think about the issue as a person who
I am British, but I live in Canada, so I have two home
countries.
In the U.K. zoos take many forms. Some are private
and some are operated by cities. I do not know a lot
about the situation in Canada, so I cannot say.
However, I think that the majority of the zoos are
private.
○ Questioner
I think that the difference between Japan and the U.K.
can be attributed to this.
○ Georgia Mason
Well, to tell you the truth, I do not know. This is a
very difficult question so I cannot say. How the animals
come to zoos and why people go to zoos are very
profound questions. I think that cultural differences
also play a role.
○ Questioner
So it is not a simple issue. I understand.
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
Is there anything anybody wants to really ask as a last
question?
The person in the back, I apologize, but please keep
your question short.
○ Questioner
I am a third year student at Teikyo University of
Science. Thank you for the lecture.
I am talking on a very large scale, but does it mean
that improvements may be made if we can change the
country? Do you think that that is the case?
○ Yoshikazu Ueno
It is not really the country. It is the difference in
culture. So if we are able to change the cultural
context as well, we might be able to make a difference.
However, since this is impossible, we should change
what we can within our values. In a sense, science
provides us an objective perspective. How we accept
science becomes a cultural issue and issues regarding
our values. However, science gives us a different way of
looking at things compared to these other facets. This
60
is why we refer to science as something objective.
ワークショップ Ⅱ　動物園におけるエンリッチメントの実際
has been studying animal welfare and bioethics in
university.
I think people still have things they want to ask. If
there are any questions, please ask them individually.
I would like to close the workshop now. Thank you
very much.