1–8 March 2010
Location: Awaji Farm Park, Japan
Perth Zoo Field Worker: Belinda Turner (Australian Fauna Keeper)
A Japanese Apricot Tree in full bloom.
The Hyogo Prefecture in Japan has had a sister-state relationship with Western Australia since 1981. This relationship often involves cultural exchange programs, which includes individuals or groups travelling to the sister-state to exchange skills and knowledge in their relevant fields.
During visits to Perth, delegates from Hyogo Prefecture often visit Perth Zoo to see the work we are doing with our animals and with conservation. I was invited by the Hyogo Prefecture Government to visit Awaji Farm Park to work with their staff in the area of koala husbandry.
Awaji Farm Park, located on Awaji Island within the Hyogo Prefecture, received koalas from Yanchep National Park in 1988 and 2003 as a goodwill gesture from the Western Australian Government. The koalas at Awaji Farm Park are very popular with their visitors and are seen by 400,000 people each year.
Process
I work with many of the iconic Australian animals at Perth Zoo including koalas, dingos, kangaroos and wombats and used this experience to share my knowledge (via an interpreter) on animal husbandry with Awaji Farm Park zoo keepers, particularly those working with koalas and wallabies.
Japanese pre-schoolers give Belinda a warm welcome to Awaji Farm Park's koala pavillion.
The discussions included koala diet, behaviour and breeding. Awaji Farm Park has six koalas and all were in good condition. They have one male and five female koalas, ranging from nine to 20 years of age, from both the northern and southern subspecies.
The koalas are kept in a purpose-built indoor facility, with temperature, humidity and noise all closely monitored and regulated to give the koalas the most comfortable living environment. This area of Japan experiences very cold winters and humid summers, so I’m sure the koalas appreciate the indoor environment. There are also some outdoor enclosures that can be used in the milder months.
Growing eucalyptus trees for koala fodder presents a challenge in Japan, due to harsh winter frost and waterlogged soils. The koalas at Awaji Farm Park are fed from several different plantations and branches are even shipped in from plantations in more temperate areas to ensure a constant supply of good quality leaf over winter.
Results
The staff were very receptive to the husbandry recommendations and advice I was able to pass on regarding animal health, breeding, behavioural enrichment and management of Eucalyptus plantations.
It was also good to reassure them about some of their existing practices and to establish personal relationships with the keepers so that I can assist them in the future if they need advice.
Highlights
In addition to my time at the Park, I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the people who were so friendly. I was fortunate enough to be taken sightseeing around Hyogo and visited Himeji Castle, the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge (the world’s longest suspension bridge), experienced a traditional puppet show at the Awaji Puppet Theatre and sailed over the Naruto whirlpools.
Challenges
Language was the biggest challenge. English isn’t widely spoken in the rural area of Awaji Island and my Japanese is very limited. I was very thankful to have an interpreter with me and the people were very nice and patient.
Benefits
It’s always beneficial for a zoo keeper to see the workings of other zoos and the different sets of challenges faced by other institutions. I made many new friends in Awaji and I am sure we will continue to share information regarding animal husbandry in the future. The sister-state relationship is approaching its 30th anniversary and I believe that exchanges such as this help to strengthen this relationship.
