A former elementary school building in a sparsely populated area in Kochi Prefecture is thriving as an aquarium, with its cumulative visitors topping 100,000 as of Tuesday, about six months after its opening. Closed as a schoolhouse 12 years ago, the three-story building in the ...
Proliferation of marine parks in China fueling shadowy trade in cetaceans
Eight beluga whales jump in unison out of a bright blue indoor pool, flipping their tail fins and spewing water as a packed audience cheers and snaps photographs. Whale shows like the one at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, located in Zhuhai on China's southern coast, are ...
New app identifies underwater creatures at Japan aquariums with the tap of a finger
Ever struggled to identify the name of a fish when visiting an aquarium? A campaign being held at three aquariums in Japan until the end of November will allow visitors to look up the names of fish and mammals as if they have an encyclopedia ...
Aichi aquarium displays invasive alligator gar caught in Nagoya Castle's moat
One of the alligator gars caught in the vast moat of Nagoya Castle last year has been turned into a specimen for display at Hekinan Seaside Aquarium in Aichi Prefecture, giving visitors the chance to fully observe the long carnivorous fish indigenous to North ...
Aquariums in Kanagawa, Yamaguchi sever ties with national body over Taiji dolphin ban
Two aquariums in Japan said they have canceled their memberships with the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums due to its decision to forbid the acquisition of dolphins caught through controversial drive hunts off the town of Taiji in Wakayama Prefecture. Enoshima Aquarium in Fujisawa, ...
Hokkaido aquarium aiming to breed endangered Humboldt penguins
Japan's northernmost aquarium will try to breed endangered Humboldt penguins from South America. Hidenori Takai, 41, who heads the seven-member breeding team at Wakkanai Noshappu Aquarium in Wakkanai, Hokkaido, said the program aims to show children how life begins again. "We don't have a luxury facility ...
Visitors flock to see Fukuoka aquarium's albino sea cucumber
A rare white namako (sea cucumber) has wowed visitors to an aquarium in the city of Fukuoka recently, prompting many to make their wish for good luck on the marine creature. The white sea cucumber is thought to be an albino, with its pigments mutated ...
Japan faces uphill battle to breed dolphins after drive hunt ban
Japanese aquariums are now actively seeking to breed dolphins, but they face an uphill battle due to a lack of facilities and expertise.
Perceived dangers posed by selfie sticks prompt bans at some tourist venues
As selfie sticks become popular among young people and foreign visitors, more tourist facilities in the Chubu region are banning them over the apparent dangers they can pose. While some facilities prohibit use of selfie sticks for the sake of visitor safety, others allow them, ...
JAZA reinstated in world body after suspension over Taiji dolphins
The Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums on Thursday regained its membership in the global industry body after it ordered its members to cease acquiring dolphins from a controversial drive hunt. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums announced its decision to end JAZA's suspension ...
After JAZA ban, Taiji mayor plans new association to sell drive-hunt dolphins: NHK
Kazutaka Sangen, the mayor of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, which conducts annual dolphin drive hunts, said he wants to set up a new association with aquariums wishing to obtain dolphins from the town, NHK reported Wednesday. Sangen's remarks, which are highly likely to reignite controversy over ...
The vote by Japanese zoos and aquarium to remain in the industry's world body means dolphin-keepers will have to rethink how they obtain their animals.
