Finally! Four Asian elephants arrive at Fukuoka City Zoo! Planned to be open to the public in autumn 2024

Big news that Fukuoka residents have been waiting for!

At last, four Asian elephants have arrived at Fukuoka City Zoo!

For the first time in seven years, an Asian elephant can be seen in the elephant house at Fukuoka City Zoo!

It has been approximately seven years since Hanako, the Asian elephant, passed away in September 2017.

Construction work to expand and improve the Elephant House began in August 2020 and was scheduled to be completed in March 2023, but due to various social circumstances, the elephants themselves are no longer there.

We gazed at the now spacious and empty elephant house and waited in anticipation, and finally, on July 30th, 2024, the four Asian elephants arrived safely from Myanmar!

Image: Fukuoka City Zoo

The public release is scheduled for fall 2024.

All four dogs are in good health and have no health problems, and are currently resting comfortably.

From now on, the elephants will undergo an acclimation period of approximately three months, during which they will be accustomed to the climate and facilities of Fukuoka City Zoo, and will be able to build relationships with the zookeepers.

It is scheduled to open to the public in the fall of 2024.

Image: Fukuoka City Zoo

Even now, before the zoo is open to the public, it is possible to view the Asian elephants from a distance, but "as elephants are very delicate creatures, we ask that you watch over them quietly and refrain from making loud noises."

Let's quietly watch over it and look forward to its public opening in the fall.

*During the "Night Zoo and Botanical Garden" event, the elephants will return to their bedrooms and will not be visible.

[Until Saturday, August 31st] We are looking for names for the four elephants

The names of the four elephants will be chosen through a public contest.

Applications can be made from Thursday, August 1st to Saturday, August 31st, 2024, on the Fukuoka City Zoo website (https://zoo.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/news/detail/1419) or by filling out the application form available at the Zoo's Animal Information Center ZooLab and the Botanical Garden's Botanical Life Square.

When applying, please keep the following two points in mind when choosing a name.

• The four heads have names that are related to each other (e.g. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter)
• The names will be as unique as possible between the elephants that were in the Fukuoka City Zoo in the past and the animals currently in the zoo.
  [Elephants from the past] Ofuku, Hanako, Boo-ko, and Ranko
  [Current animals (main)] (Giraffes) Linda, Jura, Niko / (Lion) Chachamaru / (Leopards) San, Luna, Sana / (Asiatic black bears) Genki, Hanako / (Malaysian sun bears) Sunny, Machi / (Tigers) Huey, Kai / (Rhinoceros) Mirai, Minami, etc.

Also, the ZooLab, an animal information center within the zoo, and the Fukuoka City Zoological and Botanical Gardens' official YouTube channel have posted videos summarizing the progress of the zoo so far, so it might be a good idea to take a look at them to get some ideas for names♪

Image: Fukuoka City Zoo

<Introducing the four elephants>

■ Male, 14 years old
Height: Approximately 220cm
[Birthday] January 23, 2010
[Characteristics] The calmest personality among the four
[Myanmar name] Min Kyi Aung (meaning: king, purify, success, pass)

Image: Fukuoka City Zoo

■Female, 12 years old
[Height] Approx. 200cm
[Birthday] February 21, 2012
[Characteristics] He has a slightly mischievous personality and doesn't like his zookeeper (Mafu) to ride on him, even in Myanmar.
[Myanmar name] Moe Tun Nwe (meaning: rain, lively, crane)

Image: Fukuoka City Zoo

■Female, 22 years old (mother) ※The female below is 3 years old and her mother and daughter
[Height] Approx. 230cm
[Birthday] February 18, 2002
[Characteristics] A quiet, caring mother
[Myanmar name] Sein Moe San (meaning: diamond, rain, rich life)

Image: Fukuoka City Zoo

■Female, 3 years old (child) *The female above is 22 years old and her daughter
[Height] Approximately 150cm
[Birthday] January 17, 2021
[Characteristics] Energetic and tomboyish, curious and loves to play
[Myanmar name] Aye Moe San (meaning: quiet, smooth, rainy, rich life)

Image: Fukuoka City Zoo

*Age is at the time of arrival, height is estimated.

<Process leading up to name selection>

(1) Applications are accepted until Saturday, August 31st

(2) Zoo staff will select 10 candidates from (1) for the runoff election.

(3) Choose one of the 10 candidates in (2) and vote using the ballot paper that will be distributed when you enter the Fukuoka City Zoological and Botanical Gardens.

[Ballot box locations] Zoo: Main gate, West gate / Botanical Garden: Main gate, Botanical Life Square
[Voting period] Late September to mid-October 2024 (planned)

(4) Decision and Announcement

The four most popular names will be selected in the final vote and will be announced in the fall, along with the elephants' public debut.

We are also looking for new members for the "Ele Fan Club."

Adult elephants are the largest land animals, weighing about 5 tons, and eat nearly 100 kilograms of food every day. They also love bathing, so they need a lot of water.

Therefore, they are recruiting members for the "Ele Fan Club," a group that will help support the elephants' comfortable lives.

If you donate 1,000 yen or more, you will receive an original badge with an illustration of the four animals (4 types in total) as a symbol of your Ele Fan Club membership.

One badge will be given for each entry (1,000 yen). Normally, you cannot choose the design, but if you apply for four entries, you can get four different designs.

Image: Fukuoka City Zoo

*Unlike the existing "Animal Supporter System," no registration certificate (annual passport) will be issued.

Fukuoka City Zoo will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2023, and this will be the first time they have ever kept four elephants at the same time, and a male elephant! Things are likely to get even more exciting in the future.

Petit Monde, a gift shop at the zoo's main gate near the elephant house, has also started selling original cookies commemorating the elephant's arrival. They were hand-made one by one by the staff at Ayutomo, a welfare facility for people with disabilities in the city, while imagining the smiles of the customers who were looking forward to the elephant's visit. If you visit the zoo, be sure to check them out. (Text by ARNE Editorial Department)

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