The Activity about Research and Conservation at the Yokohama City Zoos

Abstract

ABSTRACT.　The zoological garden is socially placed not only as the recreational facility but also as the social educational facility, as the research organization and as the center of conservation for nature and wildlife, and the technical staff of the zoological garden such as keeper, veterinarian and education officer perform not only each work as profession but also conduct many research activity about zoology, veterinary medicine and education by their own or cooperated with the research organization such as university.　Yokohama city zoos perform several wildlife conservation programs such as technical cooperation for Uganda Wildlife Education Centre supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA), Bali mynah reintroduction to Bali island in Indonesia also supported by JICA, captive breeding of Tokyo bitterling once extinct in Yokohama city area. It is often recognized that the zoological garden is a simple recreation facility and the keeper is a simple worker to care the animal. But the zoological garden is one of the natural science museum and the technical staff carry same role as the museum curator. Especially municipal zoos are hoped to achieve public interest for education about nature and wildlife conservation because management of those zoo is mainly based on municipal tax.