Tama Zoological Park, Metropolitan zoo in Hino, Japan
Tama Zoological Park is a zoo in Hino, Japan, spread across several wooded hills connected by broad paths. Enclosures are separated by natural moats and water features, allowing the animals to live in spacious areas that resemble their native habitats.
The park opened in May 1958 as a new approach to keeping animals, using moats instead of bars. Over the following decades, it expanded its grounds and introduced breeding stations for endangered species.
The park takes its name from the Tama region, which stretches west of Tokyo and is known for its wooded hills. Families visit often on weekends, and many bring picnics they enjoy on the lawns between enclosures.
The entrance sits directly beside a train station, so visitors arrive on foot without needing further transport. Paths are paved or firm, and it takes several hours to walk through all the sections.
One section hosts Przewalski's horses alongside Eurasian wolves, a pairing not found anywhere else. The animals share the same ground, separated only by natural barriers, recreating their original life communities.
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