動物園や水族館に行く理由はさまざま。円山動物園では、ホッキョクグマのリラやデナリの子どもたちを紹介。ホッキョクグマは北極圏に生息し、アザラシを主な餌としている。子育ては難しく、ララとデナリは8匹の子どもを成功させた。動物園では研究も行われており、ホッキョクグマとアザラシを担当する鳥居氏が最新の調査成果を共有。円山動物園は水中トンネルや展示などで楽しめる場所で、ホッキョクグマや北極の自然を学べる。
From cute and soothing to unraveling the mysteries of nature, everyone has their own motivations for visiting zoos and aquariums. Let’s introduce the “living things” you can encounter.
[ Polar bear]
Scientific name: Ursus maritimus
Classification: Mammalia, Carnivora, Carnivora, Carnivora
Length: Male – 2.5m, Female – 2m
Features: They have a keen sense of smell, able to smell the scent of seals kilometers away. They swim skillfully using their front paws as oars and hind legs as a rudder.
An adult male polar bear can weigh up to 800kg and reach a length of 2.5m. They are one of the largest carnivorous animals in the bear family. As their name suggests, they mainly inhabit the Arctic region and primarily feed on seals on the ice.
Maruyama Zoo in Sapporo currently houses two polar bears. In the Polar Bear House, you can observe them eating and playing in various ways from different angles. The underwater tunnel where you can closely observe polar bears swimming in the pool is popular. Visitors who see them jump into the pool tend to flee to the underwater tunnel downstairs. Since the swimming activities are not always visible, it is recommended to wait as long as time permits.
Gave birth to and raised 8 cubs
The estimated number of wild polar bears is about 26,000 (2017). In recent years, due to environmental changes, the population has been declining, and they are classified as vulnerable species on the Red List, with a high risk of extinction.
The zoo not only showcases polar bears but also conducts research in collaboration with other zoos, including those abroad, sharing breeding knowledge. Breeding also plays an important role for zoos. The eight animals previously kept at the zoo are descendants of Lala (29-year-old female) and Denali (deceased in 2023). The smallest, Lila, swims energetically in the water.
Lila, Female, 9 years old
Yoshiko Torii, an animal specialist who takes care of and researches polar bears, talks about the difficulties of breeding.
“Polar bears have a difficult-to-detect estrous period, making breeding challenging. Also, they give birth to small cubs weighing around 800 grams, and many die before reaching a certain size, making breeding difficult.”
Despite this, Lala paired with Denali and gave birth to and raised eight cubs. This is the highest number in Japan. Polar bears are known to be extremely nervous animals, and maintaining a gentle environment until they can raise their cubs well is said to be challenging.
“Through the exhibition at the Polar Bear House, I want to convey the research results and the natural state of the Arctic to all visitors.” (Torii)
Sapporo Maruyama Zoo
Sapporo City, Chuo-ku, Miyagaoka 3-1
Phone: 011-621-1426
Opening hours: 9:30-16:30 (March-October, last entry at 16:00), 9:30-16:00 (November-February, last entry at 15:30)
Closed: 2nd and 4th Wednesday (1st and 4th Wednesday in August only), Monday to Friday, including the 2nd Wednesday in April and November, December 29-31
Admission fee: 800 yen
Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Maruyama Park Station on the subway, about 7 minutes by bus from Maruyama Park Station, get off at the zoo.
Reporting & Writing: Masaki Uno, Photography: Shuhei Fujita, Photo provided by Sapporo Maruyama Zoo
*This article is reprinted from the May 2024 issue of “Sarai”.
.custom-hover-1155233 a { transition: all 0.2s; border: 2px solid #fcb900; }
.custom-hover-1155233 a:hover { background-color: #fff; }