Provided by Hyotan Group, Hitachi City
Kamine Zoo, More and more interesting place now June, 2014
Main gate of the Hitachi Kamine Zoo
Kamine zoo opened in 1957 is known as the 1st or 2nd scale zoo in northern Kanto area. However the number of visitors drastically reduced after its peak in 1980. “The Chimpanzee’s grove and house” were newly completed in 2008. Moreover the grove was enriched by the voluntary support of citizens, which was quite effective in breeding and propagation. As the result it brought increase of visitors drastically from 2009.　Kamine zoo was awarded “Enrichment Prize” in 2012. This is a prize given by NPO for praising activities to improve the environment of zoological gardens and aquariums. The mascot as original character of the zoo “Kamineccho” was created from imagination of zoo location. The body is like a hippopotamus, its wings are taken from an owl and its tail is from a rat. 　This report mainly covers how visitors can enjoy spending time with animals.
Plaza for having contact with animals 　One of aims in Kamine zoo is to provide an opportunities for visitors to get along with animals. Therefore the zoo places great importance on touching animals directly to get feelings in a body not only observing animals closely in almost actual situation. At the place named “Contacting Plaza” kindergarten children and schoolchildren in the lower grades can actually touch animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and a harlequin snake. Especially kindergarteners looked deeply impressed when they took the rabbits up in their arms. Here we also can closely see goats, donkeys and turtles etc. Feeding experiences 　We can feed rabbits on a piece of carrots at the Contacting plaza. We also have feeding experience at the breeding farm of several animals such as capybaras, giraffes, chimpanzees, penguins and elephants around 2:00p.m.everyday (also 10:30a.m. during weekends) For details, please ask the person in charge. As for giraffes, a new house with a balcony on the 2nd floor was built and the visitors can feed giraffes easily by looking them at the similar height.
Rabbits	Goats
Balcony for feeding	Feeding
Capybara and Prairie dog 　Capybaras which are rodents belong to the rat family and prairie dogs which bark like a dog are popular now. Both animals have babies quite a lot and we can have a chance to see cute babies. The habitat of capybaras is South America. They are herbivorous and eat mainly plants of Gramineae. They have webbed feets but they do not make nest (web) though they belong to the rat family. 　The habitat of prairie dogs is North America and they live in the hole on a prairie. The holes set up in the ground have many rooms. Their principal food is Gramineae but they hardly drink water. We can watch their life-style in a breeding farm. The size of animals is from 30 to 40 cm long.
Capybaras	Prairie dogs
Chimpanzee’s grove and monkey’s paradise 　This grove is the recognized facilities for having the excellent breeding environment. By planting a large number of trees and building a high tower in the vast yard, chimpanzees can enjoy in the open air. This creates a similar living environment of their original life style. Visitors can observe animals not only from the front but also from the high position of the back Besides there is a big special glass window in the observation building. We can watch them without being noticed by chimpanzees through this glass window. Furthermore there is a special device, that is, we can watch them from the window made under the playground. Monkey's Paradise 　There are several cages for monkeys of the habitat of the equator. The most entertaining ones are Bolivian squirrel monkeys. We can enter into the cage from the entrance of double door and so we can watch them closely. Since they are small-sized and outgoing monkeys, we can watch them closely from a distance of several centimeter. It means we can take a photo directly without an obstacle like wire nettings. Therefore this place is a popular spot for cameramen. We can see a mother monkey with her baby on her back jumping from a branch to a branch. This action is done in the distance we might touch if we stretch our arms.
Chimpanzee's grove	Chimpanzees through the glass window
Inside of squirrel monkeys' cage	Bolivian squirrel monkeys
Kabasan House, Kabasan Plaza 　There is a restaurant called “Kabasan House” (Hippopotamus House) in the area of large scale animal booth. We can have light meals or a snack here. Also we can take a rest on the benches at Kabasan Plaza (Hippopotamus Plaza) and children can play running around at the open air in the area
Flamingos and Kabasan Plaza	A rest station of “Contacting Plaza”
.Contact to: 　　　　Address: #317-0055 　　　　　　　　　5-2-22 Miyata-cho, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki-ken 　　　　Tel: 0294-22-55　86 　　　　Opening hour: 　　　　　　　　　　Summer season (Mar. to Oct.) 9:00-17:00 (Enter before 16:15) 　　　　　　　　　　Winter season (Nov. to Feb.) 9:00-16:15 (Enter before 15:30) 　　　　　　　　　　Closed day*:Dec. 31 to Jan.1 　　　　Access:　Car:　Approx. 5 minutes from Hitachi Central IC via Route 6 　　　　　　　　　　Bus :　Approx. 10 minutes from JR Hitachi Station by Hitachi Dentetsu 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Bus, Get off at Kamine Park Entrance 　　　　Home Page: http://www.city.hitachi.lg jp/zoo/index.html
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