Adélie Penguins Arriving in Pre-World War II Japan

Abstract

Historical records of living Adélie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae brought back to Japan by Southern Ocean whaling fleet were investigated. Following the work by Mr. Mitsusuke Yonekubo, two Adélie Penguins were captured on December 27, 1940 and housed in the oil tanker Itsukushima Maru. The captain enthusiastically kept penguins and the tanker arrived at Kobe Port on February 2, 1941. The penguins were moved to Takarazuka Zoological Park and died about a month later. Operation of the Antarctic mothership whaling, the experience and efforts of the captain, and sea water supply and drainage pump of the Itsukushima Maru played an important role for the transport of this species to Japan.