Satsukiyama Zoo, Zoo in Ikeda, Japan
Satsukiyama Zoo is a small facility at the base of Mount Satsuki in Ikeda housing enclosures with alpacas, sheep, emus, and other animals. The zoo spans a compact area where visitors can view the different species within easy walking distances.
Satsukiyama Zoo opened in April 1957, when deer were brought from Kinkasan in Miyagi Prefecture as the animal facilities were completed. In 1990 three wombats arrived from Launceston, Tasmania, Ikeda's sister city, and in 1992 the zoo bred a wombat, Satsuki, the first such breeding outside Australia. Wombat Wine was recognised by Guinness World Records in February 2022 as the oldest wombat, at 33.
The zoo's mascot, Won-chan, was chosen in 2018 from 196 public entries and is based on the wombat. Since August 2015 the zoo has also been home to Keeper Girls, a female idol group belonging to the facility. A picture book, Satsukiyama Wombat Monogatari by Atsuko Kawada, appeared in 2007.
The zoo sits a 15-minute walk from Hankyu Ikeda Station and is easily accessible on foot. Entry is free, and visitors should wear comfortable shoes as the terrain can be uneven with paths winding around the hillside.
The zoo ranks among the smallest of its kind in Japan and focuses mainly on smaller, domesticated, or regional animals. This specialization allows for a closer, more direct viewing experience where visitors can interact with the creatures more intimately.
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