ZIMS at Work: One of Japan’s most visited zoos, Osaka Tennoji Zoo records and shares wildlife data using ZIMS

*Osaka Tennoji Zoo cares for over 180 species including the jaguar. (Photo: Osaka Tennoji Zoo)*

We are pleased that individual data (in ZIMS) can be easily shared within our teams and with other wildlife institutions worldwide.
Taka Ide, Welfare and Care Organizer, Osaka Tennoji Zoo

Founded in 1915 and located in a bustling port city, Osaka Tennoji Zoo is one of Japan’s most visited zoos. The Zoo is focused on public education and the conservation of endangered species, including managing important breeding programs that help to protect and preserve wildlife. In all, Osaka Tennoji Zoo cares for about 180 species, including endangered species such as the Japanese crane, Japanese pond turtle, sun bear, polar bear, jaguar, and Amur (Siberian) tiger.

The institution is also member of both the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) and, for 25 years now, global non-profit Species360 – a community of over 1,200 zoos and aquariums that record and share data on wildlife. As part of Species360, the Zoo uses the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) to record data on the animals and groups in its care.

“We are pleased that individual data (in ZIMS) can be easily shared within our teams and with other wildlife institutions worldwide. This helps us to manage the care of individual animals here, enables us to learn from other zoos’ experiences, and opens new opportunities to collaborate in managing healthy in situ and ex situ populations of endangered species,” said Taka Ide, Welfare and Care Organizer, Osaka Tennoji Zoo.

In particular, the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams use ZIMS to support day-to-day husbandry and medical care of individual animals and larger groups – as well as to inform breeding programs. That data helps to support and improve the care and welfare of animals at Osaka Tennoji Zoo and at other zoos and aquariums worldwide.

Happy anniversary, Osaka Tennoji Zoo, and thank you for all that you do!

In all, more than 1,200 wildlife institutions participate in Species360 and use ZIMS to share data essential to the care and conservation of wildlife. To find out when your next member anniversary is, please email Support@Species360.org. More articles like this ZIMS at Work story can be found here.