Adventure World (Japan)

Adventure World (白浜アドベンチャーワールド, Shirahama Adobenchā Wārudo) is an amusement park with a zoo and a public aquarium, located in the town of Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by Hours Co., Ltd. (AWS), an affiliate of Marusue Co., Ltd. headquartered in Matsubara, Osaka Prefecture. The park opened on April 22, 1978, as Nanki Shirahama World Safari.

Adventure World
Adventure World entrance gate Map
Map
Date opened1978
LocationShirahama, Wakayama, Japan
MembershipsJAZA
Major exhibitsgiant panda, Emperor Penguin etc.

Overview

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Operating under the motto of "contact between humans, animals, and nature", Adventure World consists of a zoo, aquarium, and an amusement park. The park's many facilities include a giant panda breeding exhibition and dolphin and sea lion shows. The park also hosts various animal-themed restaurants and cafes, as well as academic tours.

In January 2023, two lions at Adventure World died of COVID-19 after contact with an infected employee. A further eight lions became infected, but recovered.[1]

 
Cheetah

The Adventure World zoo is divided into several different areas and attractions:

Giant Panda Conservation

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Giant panda

Adventure World operates as the Japanese branch of the Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base in Chengdu, China.[2] The giant panda breeding research project had successfully bred 17 giant pandas by September 2018,[3] the highest number in the world both in terms of live births and mature offspring maintained outside of mainland China. As of September 12, 2018, Adventure World was home to 6 of the 10 captive pandas in Japan; Ueno Zoo had three, and Kobe Oji Zoo had one.

Panda Love, the park's panda center, provides an open area where pandas can roam at will. All the giant pandas currently in captivity, including offspring, are owned by the Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base.

The Giant Pandas at the park are a massive tourism attraction for Shirahama, known colloquially as 'The Panda Town'.[4]

On July 11, 2019, The Wakayama Prefectural Police named the Giant Panda Saihama "Traffic Safety Wakayama Dream Ambassador" (交通安全和歌山夢大使) to raise awareness for road traffic safety. Saihama appeared in posters and promotional products to raise awareness for traffic safety. In July 2022, as part of the "Wakayama Summer Traffic Safety Movement", Ayahama became the new mascot of the campaign.[5]

All pandas born at the research base have names that carry the suffix hin () (e.g., Rauhin). Eimei fathered 14 pandas, except for the 1st (Yoshihama), and the 6th panda, who died shortly after birth. Eimei gave birth to Ranbao (male) in 2002 at the Lanzhou Zoo in China via artificial insemination from Ran and Shulan (twin sisters born from Umeume), but he died on August 30, 2012.

Giant pandas currently at Adventure World[6]
Name Sex Date of Birth Birthplace Notes
Rauhin/Liangbang

(らうひん/良浜)

Female September 6, 2000 (age 23) Adventure World Father: Haran, mother: Meimei;

The first giant panda born in Japan in 12 years.

Yuihin/Jiebang

(ゆいひん/結浜)

Female September 18, 2016 (age 7) Adventure World Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin
Saihin/Caibang

(さいひん/彩浜)

Female August 14, 2018 (age 5) Adventure World Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin;

had a stillborn twin[7][8]

Fuhin/Fengbang

(ふうひん/楓浜)

Female November 22, 2020 (age 3) Adventure World Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin;

originally thought to be male[9]

Giant pandas previously in captivity
Name Sex Date of Birth Birthplace Entry date Departure Destination and Date Notes
Shinshin

(シンシン/辰辰)

Male - - September 19, 1988 Returned to China

January 10, 1989

-
Keikei

(ケイケイ/慶慶)

Female - - September 19, 1988 Returned to China

January 10, 1989

-
Youhin/Rongbang

(ようひん/蓉浜)

Female September 4, 1992 Chengdu Zoo September 4, 1992 - Died July 17, 1997 (age 4), Adventure World
Eimei/Yong Ming

(えいめい/永明)

Male September 14, 1992 (age 31) Beijing Zoo September 6, 1994 Chengdu Zoo, February 22, 2023 -
Meimei

(めいめい/梅梅)

Female August 31, 1994 Chengdu Okumaneko Breeding Research Base July 7, 2000 - Died October 15, 2008 at 5:29 (age 14)[10]
Yuhin/Xiongbang (ゆうひん/雄浜) Male December 17, 2001 (age 22) Adventure World - Chengdu Okumaneko Breeding Research Base,

June 21, 2004

Father: Eimei, mother: MeiMei
Ryuhin/Longbang (りゅうひん/隆浜) Male September 8, 2003 (age 20) Adventure World - Chengdu Zoo, October 27, 2007;

moved to Huai An Zoo from 2016 to 2020

Father: Eimei, mother: MeiMei;

twins with Shuhin

Shuhin/Qiubang

(しゅうひん/秋浜)

Male September 8, 2003 (age 20) Adventure World - Chengdu Zoo, October 27, 2007;

moved to Shenzhen Zoo

Father: Eimei, mother: MeiMei;

twins with Ryuhin

Kouhin/Xinbang

(こうひん/幸浜)

Male August 23, 2005 (age 18) Adventure World - Chengdu Zoo,

March 15, 2010

Father: Eimei, mother: Male;

twins with unnamed panda

Unnamed Male August 24, 2005 Adventure World - - Died August 25, 2005 due to being underweight (66g);

twins with Kouhin

Aihin/Aibang

(あいひん/愛浜)

Female December 23, 2006 (age 17) Adventure World - Chengdu Zoo,

December 14, 2012

Father: Eimei, mother: MeiMei;

twins with Meihin

Meihin/Mingbang

(めいひん/明浜)

Male December 23, 2006 (age 17) Adventure World - Chengdu Zoo, December 14, 2012;

subsequently moved to Ryushu Zoo in 2014[11]

Father: Eimei, mother: MeiMei;

twins with Aihin

Meihin/Meibang (めいひん/梅浜) Female September 13, 2008 (age 15) Adventure World - Chengdu Zoo,

February 26, 2013

Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin;

twins with Eihin; first pandas to be born in captivity for three generations

Eihin/Yongbang (えいひん/永浜) Male September 13, 2008 (age 15) Adventure World - Chengdu Zoo,

February 26, 2013

Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin;

twins with Meihin; first pandas to be born in captivity for three generations

Kaihin/Haibang

(かいひん/海浜)

Male August 11, 2010 (age 13) Adventure World - Chengdu Zoo,

June 5, 2017

Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin;

twins with Youhin

Youhin/Yangbang

(ようひん/陽浜)

Female August 11, 2010 (age 13) Adventure World - Chengdu Zoo,

June 5, 2017

Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin;

twins with Kaihin

Yuhin/Youbang

(ゆうひん/優浜)

Female August 10, 2012 (age 11) Adventure World - Chengdu Zoo,

June 5, 2017

Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin;

had a stillborn twin

Ouhin/Yingbang

(おうひん/桜浜)

Female December 2, 2014 (age 9) Adventure World - Return to China,

February 2023

Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin;

twin sister of Touhin

Touhin/Taobang

(とうひん/桃浜)

Female December 2, 2014 (age 9) Adventure World - Return to China,

February 2023

Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin;

twin sister of Ouhin

(In order of birth, regardless of transfer date)

In March 2011, Wakayama Prefecture Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka gave the title of Wakayama Prefecture Honore to three pandas: Eimei, Rauhan, and Meimei.

This followed the Tama Stationmaster at Kishi Station on the Wakayama Electric Railway Kishigawa Line, and acted as a recognition and tribute to the nationwide dissemination of the charm of Wakayama Prefecture by increasing the number of panda families.[12]

Aquarium

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Marine Live show

Attractions

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Marine Live & Animal Action

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The dolphin and whale show, called "Marine Live", is held in a pool with a tank capacity of 10,000,000 litres (2,642,000 US gal). The tank has a width of 47 m (154 ft), a length of 21 m (69 ft), and a depth of 8 m (26 ft).[13] The show features an original soundtrack, sold within the park.[14] A sea lion show is also held under the name "Animal Action".[15]

Polar bears

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On October 20, 2009, Adventure World announced the arrival of a baby female polar bear named Mirai, born on October 13. Mirai died on May 16, 2014.

In 2013, a male polar bear was born. Following the death of a male polar bear from liver cancer in 2014, it was decided to borrow the male polar bear Gogo from Tennōji Zoo in March 2015.[16]

Penguins

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Emperor penguins

Eight species of penguins are exhibited (emperor penguins, king penguins, gentoo penguins, Adélie penguins, chinstrap penguins, rockhopper penguins, cape penguins, and fairy penguins).

Approximately 470 birds have been bred, which is one of the largest amounts in the world. In particular, the breeding of emperor penguins has been successful.[17][18] On October 1, 2019, the facility hatched its 13th emperor penguin chick.[19]

Killer whales

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Killer whale

The killer whale show at Adventure World was once famous but ceased after the death of the last killer whale in 2005.

Adventure World's first killer whale, Kianu (female, body length 6 m (20 ft), weight 3 t), was brought from Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in California five days before the opening of the amusement park in 1978.[20] Some time afterwards, only Goro (a male brought from Taiji, Wakayama in 1985) remained, but fell ill on 18 January 2005 and died on March 21 at 9:20 pm. Other orcas, including Benkei, Ushiwaka, Ruka, and Ai, were also bred intermittently. Four eggs and sets of sperm from Ruka, Goro, Ran, and Kyu, collected before they died, have been preserved in preparation for future artificial insemination.[20]

Play Zone (Amusement Park)

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Adventure World also features an Amusement Park section called 'Play Zone'. The area features a number of attractions, including:[21]

The park features both indoor and outdoor attractions.[21]

Zoological Academy

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An educational facility for the training of zookeepers connected to the park opened in 2000. Located on the Adventure World site, it is the only facility in Japan where trainees receive specialised daily animal training in the park from keepers.

The Academy offers a two-year wildlife management programme and a one-year wildlife short-term programme. Programmes also include basic veterinary medicine, biology, and zoology. Classes are also offered in English, business, hospitality, and Zoo management. In the final year, trainees conduct research on an animal within the park.

The academy works closely with the AWS Zoological Academy in the United States and Australia. Graduates are active in animal breeding sites all over Japan.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2 lions die of COVID-19 at Japanese zoo". BNO News. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  2. ^ 日本一パンダが生まれるアドベンチャーワールドに「専門家はいらない」。飼育員のチームワーク術 - サイボウズ式(2012年11月9日)
  3. ^ アドベンチャーワールドの繁殖研究
  4. ^ "ファイル:Shiramamamatiyakuba.jpg - Wikipedia". commons.wikimedia.org (in Japanese). 2005-09-11. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  5. ^ "交通安全和歌山夢大使彩浜のポスターを作成しました|交通情報|交通事故防止|和歌山県警察ホームページ". www.police.pref.wakayama.lg.jp. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  6. ^ "Giant Pandas | Introduction of Animals". Adventure World. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  7. ^ 和歌山の赤ちゃんパンダ授乳確認 双子の1頭は死産 日刊スポーツ2018年8月16日閲覧
  8. ^ 赤ちゃんパンダ授乳2回確認 和歌山・アドベンチャーワールド 産経新聞2018年8月18日閲覧
  9. ^ 和歌山パンダの赤ちゃん 性別は「雌」でした アドベンチャーワールドが発表 YAHOO!JAPANニュース2020年12月22日閲覧
  10. ^ "和歌山)七夕の贈り物 パンダの永明と良浜". 朝日新聞デジタル. 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  11. ^ 柳州動物園に成都パンダがやって来ました——明浜の運動場初体験 成都ジャイアントパンダ繁殖研究基金会(2014-04-08)
  12. ^ パンダにナイトの称号 たま駅長に続き第2号 和歌山県」 asahi.com(朝日新聞)2011年3月6日。(2011年3月7日のアーカイブ)
  13. ^ 【「LOVES」水のステージ】 アドベンチャーワールド公式フェイスブック
  14. ^ "アドベンチャーワールド公式Your Smile シングルCD: 生活雑貨・インテリア雑貨オンラインショップ". www.ec-aws.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  15. ^ "Tour, Attractions". Adventure World. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  16. ^ 赤ちゃん同じ日に誕生 ホッキョクグマとペンギン Archived 2012-08-08 at the Wayback Machine AGARA紀伊民報 2009年10月23日
  17. ^ "Penguin chick makes public debut". The Japan Times. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  18. ^ 中国初 コウテイペンギンの繁殖に成功=大連の動物園」(毎日中国経済)2010年11月26日。
  19. ^ 2013年10月17日、エンペラーペンギンの赤ちゃんが誕生しました!
  20. ^ a b 谷口一久・大出庸子『いつか、オルカ』アワーズ 2007年 ISBN 978-4-9903598-1-2
  21. ^ a b "Play Zone | Introduction of Facilities". Adventure World. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
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