With Species360, Japan’s ZOORASIA Advances Animal Welfare and Conservation
- By Mary Ellen Amodeo
ZOORASIA has inspired millions of visitors to connect with wildlife and the natural world since its opening in 1999. Today, under the direction of Professor Koichi Murata, the zoo is also a leader in using data to improve animal care, population management, and species conservation. Here, we interview Prof. Murata about the role of data in daily operations throughout the institution — and in improving animal welfare and species conservation.
ZIMS enables us to provide better care and contribute to species conservation—not only in Japan, but globally.
Prof. Koichi Murata, Director, ZOORASIA
As one of Japan’s largest and most progressive zoological institutions, Yokohama Zoological Gardens “ZOORASIA” is a mosaic of ecosystems, education, and evolving conservation practices. The park spans over 45 hectares and recreates eight global climate zones, giving visitors a glimpse of wildlife in environments that mirror their natural habitats.
But behind the scenes, something even more impressive is happening. ZOORASIA is one of the earliest members of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) to fully adopt and contribute to the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS)—a global platform that centralizes data on species care, population management, and health.
“Sharing our data is essential—not just for animal care, but for global conservation,” says ZOORASIA director Professor Koichi Murata. “ZIMS allows us to contribute our records to a wider effort that benefits wildlife around the world.”
For ZOORASIA, the integration of ZIMS isn’t just about excellent records—it’s about opportunity. The zoo uses ZIMS to track the individual health, behavior, and history of each animal, as well as to inform breeding and enrichment decisions.
ZIMS records are 'smooth, fast, trustworthy'
ZOORASIA has inspired millions of visitors to connect with wildlife and the natural world since its opening in 1999. Today, under the direction of Professor Murata, the zoo is also a leader in using data to improve animal care, population management, and species conservation.
“All information on captive animals necessary for health management, such as weight control, feeding history, nutritional record, and so on can be obtained quickly from ZIMS,” says Prof. Murata. “By comparing such information, management appropriate for the captive environment in Japan can be achieved easily.”
ZOORASIA was among the first members of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) to adopt Species360’s Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), a powerful platform that supports global collaboration in animal welfare and conservation. The zoo uses ZIMS to manage data for hundreds of species, including rare animals introduced to Japan for the first time, such as the Okapi, Indian lion, and Crested argus.
As the only one of three Yokohama Greenery Foundation zoos currently using ZIMS, ZOORASIA plays a unique role in managing animal records—often supporting data entry for other facilities in the network. While this sometimes means extra manual work, the benefits far outweigh the challenges.
“Through the use of ZIMS, information gathering becomes very smooth and fast, and the accuracy of the information is trustworthy,” says Prof. Murata
Information on the most effective drugs and anesthetics can be obtained for rare species such as the Okapi. This information would be very difficult to access otherwise.
Prof. Koichi Murata, Director, ZOORASIA
The Director of ZOORASIA also describes how ZIMS impacts daily operations, veterinary care, and conservation planning throughout the institution.
Transforming veterinary care and conservation breeding programs
ZIMS has become a vital part of day-to-day operations at ZOORASIA. Prof. Murata notes that five staff members use ZIMS regularly, and training is offered to ensure everyone in the animal department is comfortable using it.
“Keepers routinely use the husbandry record—feeding logs, training logs, weight logs. Zoo veterinarians frequently use blood examination data, anesthesia data, and weight logs. Our record keepers use ZIMS to manage population data and holdings,” says Prof. Murata.
One area where ZIMS has transformed operations is in veterinary care and breeding strategy. With a small population of Okapi in Japan, access to international data on medical treatments has been invaluable.
“Speaking of medical records, information on the most effective drugs and anesthetics can be obtained for rare species such as the Okapi. This information would be very difficult to access otherwise,” he adds.
Three years ago, ZOORASIA began a major effort to create a pedigree registry for its wild animal population. Using ZIMS, the team analyzes genetic relationships to build a more robust breeding program.
“This has allowed us to make more detailed plans for the genetically breeding program and for introducing new individuals from both home and abroad,” says Prof. Murata.
From its innovative animal habitats and rare species to its pioneering use of data systems, ZOORASIA is not just a zoo—it is a hub of conservation science, driven by a belief in sharing knowledge for the good of species everywhere.
Jim Guenter, CEO, Species360
Prof. Murata discusses how Species360’s ZIMS fosters closer collaboration between teams, to benefit the care and welfare of the animals. He also talks about the future of ZIMS and what is needed next for Japan’s conservation community.
Improving teamwork with better information
Beyond the technical features, ZIMS fosters collaboration between keepers and veterinary teams, and builds a shared culture of data-driven care.
“It helps staff understand the importance of recording and managing animal care data, regardless of age or experience. Keepers and veterinarians develop stronger relationships through shared use of ZIMS, which improves the credibility of treatment plans,” says Prof. Murata.
However, Prof. Murata also notes the challenges that Japanese zoos face in adopting digital recordkeeping platforms like ZIMS. Budget constraints and language barriers have slowed adoption for some.
“Zoos in Japan are slightly behind in adopting ZIMS due to financial reasons or other limitations. Although Japanese translation is well underway, the language barrier is still big,” he adds.
As a result, data sharing between Japanese zoos remains limited. Most institutions only use studbooks to confirm basic information during animal transfers. Prof. Murata hopes this will change as awareness of ZIMS grows.
Meanwhile, ZOORASIA continues to push forward—not only in its own use of ZIMS but also in advocating for broader adoption across Japan’s academic and scientific communities.
“We want to add a search function for scholarly articles. It would be very efficient for scientific management if ZIMS could link species records to research papers,” says Prof. Murata. “We also hope that ZIMS will be widely promoted to universities and research institutions in Japan.”
From its innovative animal habitats and rare species to its pioneering use of data systems, ZOORASIA is not just a zoo. “ZOORASIA is a hub of conservation science, driven by a belief in sharing knowledge for the good of species everywhere,” says Species360 CEO Jim Guenter.
“ZIMS enables us to provide better care and to contribute to species conservation—not only in Japan but globally,” says Prof. Murata
Global information
serving conservation.