Animal cafes in the nation continue to garner popularity among many, including foreign tourists, as an exciting place to interact with exotic animals, such as hedgehogs and chameleons. However, a new survey released by World Wide Fund for Nature Japan on Friday showed that some animal cafes may be operating with inadequate infection control measures.
The independent global conservation organization conducted the survey in June and July by visiting 25 animal cafes in Tokyo and surrounding areas that promoted having more than 10 exotic wildlife animals such as owls and otters.
The survey, conducted in cooperation with Hokkaido University’s Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, found that risks regarding infections could be seen in many of the stores.
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