Chiba Zoological Park Aims for Gorilla Breeding, Commences Full-Scale Environmental Improvement
Chiba Zoological Park, in collaboration with Shiki no Mori Animal Clinic, has begun full-scale environmental improvements by installing trees in the outdoor exhibit to promote gorilla breeding. This initiative aims to encourage natural gorilla behaviors and create educational opportunities for visitors.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 10:31
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Shiki no Mori Animal Clinic Medical Skincare Center (Headquarters: 470-1154 Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture / Director & Veterinarian: Masato Hirakawa) installed a zelkova tree in the outdoor exhibit on March 18, 2026, as part of an initiative based on an agreement signed with Chiba Zoological Park (Location: 280 Gencho, Wakaba Ward, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture 264-0037 / Director: Issei Kaburagi) on October 7, 2025. At Chiba Zoological Park, which is promoting gorilla pairing (relationship building between individuals for breeding), improving the exhibition environment is a crucial theme. They have embarked on creating a more natural environment, including the installation of trees in the outdoor exhibit.
Through this initiative, we aim to contribute to creating an environment where gorillas can exhibit their natural behaviors and live more comfortably, while also creating opportunities for visitors to learn about animal ecology and the environment.
Installation of a zelkova tree in the center of the outdoor exhibit
♦ Installation of a zelkova tree in the outdoor exhibit
Currently, pairing of two gorillas is underway at the park. Gorilla pairing is extremely delicate and highly susceptible to environmental and stress factors, making such environmental improvements key to success. The installation of the zelkova tree in the outdoor exhibit was carried out with the aim of creating an environment that encourages gorillas' natural behaviors such as "climbing," "resting," and "moving."
Compared to the conventional exhibition environment, creating a more three-dimensional and varied space is expected to contribute to how individuals maintain distance and form relationships. Furthermore, by communicating these environmental improvement efforts to visitors, it serves an educational role in helping them understand the natural habitats of animals and deepening their understanding of animal welfare and ecosystems.
◆ "Gorilla Project for the Future"
Chiba Zoological Park has set major themes: "initiatives to bring the exhibit closer to the natural habitat and elicit wild behaviors" and "initiatives aimed at acquiring and utilizing academic knowledge to weave the future of gorillas." This project aims to improve the current gorilla breeding environment, enhance animal welfare, promote the expression of natural gorilla behaviors, and academically verify behavioral changes and effects to acquire new knowledge, which will then be utilized for improving future gorilla breeding techniques and developing gorilla exhibits.
◆ Future Outlook
Chiba Zoological Park plans to publicly display the two gorillas in the same exhibit (timing undecided).
Currently (April 2026), pairing of the same individuals is progressing on closed days, and depending on its progress, public display in the same outdoor exhibit may be realized. Through such initiatives, it is expected that an environment will be created where visitors can observe gorillas in a more natural setting.
Photo: Monta, 41 years old (born September 25, 1984) - Honest personality - Stubborn about food preferences - Loves eating (except vegetables)
Photo: Momoka, 13 years old (born April 24, 2023) - Mischievous and active - Delicate and nervous side - Loves red foods (tomatoes, paprika)
Furthermore, our clinic is considering support for expanding the range of animal behaviors and equipment for monitoring daily health conditions. We aim to create an environment where animals can live more naturally, while also improving the quality of health management and connecting the knowledge gained from behavioral medicine to this activity.
◆ About "Yorisoi Life with"
Led by Shiki no Mori Animal Clinic, this project aims to build better relationships between animals and people from the perspective of animal welfare. Utilizing knowledge from animal medicine, it develops activities that connect to the future of animals through education and dissemination.
Details >> Yorisoi Life with - What we can do for animals living in human society and children who will bear the future (Shiki no Mori Animal Clinic)
◆ About Chiba Zoological Park
Chiba Zoological Park is a zoo that emphasizes "species conservation" and "education/environmental education."
They focus on learning and disseminating information through animals, and will leverage their knowledge and communication capabilities for collaboration.
◆ About Shiki no Mori Animal Clinic Medical Skincare Center
Shiki no Mori Animal Clinic utilizes its expertise in animal medicine to connect animal welfare with society. Moving forward, it will continue to plan and supervise from a medical perspective, disseminating information to deepen understanding of animal life and ecology.
【Company Information】
Company Name: Shiki no Mori Animal Clinic Medical Skincare Center
Company Address: 1-179 Shin'eicho, Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture 470-1154
Director: Veterinarian Masato Hirakawa
Phone Number (Representative): 0562-85-2215
Website URL: https://inu-neko-byoki.com/
Business Description: Operation of an animal hospital specializing in dog skin diseases.
Through this initiative, we aim to contribute to creating an environment where gorillas can exhibit their natural behaviors and live more comfortably, while also creating opportunities for visitors to learn about animal ecology and the environment.
Installation of a zelkova tree in the center of the outdoor exhibit
♦ Installation of a zelkova tree in the outdoor exhibit
Currently, pairing of two gorillas is underway at the park. Gorilla pairing is extremely delicate and highly susceptible to environmental and stress factors, making such environmental improvements key to success. The installation of the zelkova tree in the outdoor exhibit was carried out with the aim of creating an environment that encourages gorillas' natural behaviors such as "climbing," "resting," and "moving."
Compared to the conventional exhibition environment, creating a more three-dimensional and varied space is expected to contribute to how individuals maintain distance and form relationships. Furthermore, by communicating these environmental improvement efforts to visitors, it serves an educational role in helping them understand the natural habitats of animals and deepening their understanding of animal welfare and ecosystems.
◆ "Gorilla Project for the Future"
Chiba Zoological Park has set major themes: "initiatives to bring the exhibit closer to the natural habitat and elicit wild behaviors" and "initiatives aimed at acquiring and utilizing academic knowledge to weave the future of gorillas." This project aims to improve the current gorilla breeding environment, enhance animal welfare, promote the expression of natural gorilla behaviors, and academically verify behavioral changes and effects to acquire new knowledge, which will then be utilized for improving future gorilla breeding techniques and developing gorilla exhibits.
◆ Future Outlook
Chiba Zoological Park plans to publicly display the two gorillas in the same exhibit (timing undecided).
Currently (April 2026), pairing of the same individuals is progressing on closed days, and depending on its progress, public display in the same outdoor exhibit may be realized. Through such initiatives, it is expected that an environment will be created where visitors can observe gorillas in a more natural setting.
Photo: Monta, 41 years old (born September 25, 1984) - Honest personality - Stubborn about food preferences - Loves eating (except vegetables)
Photo: Momoka, 13 years old (born April 24, 2023) - Mischievous and active - Delicate and nervous side - Loves red foods (tomatoes, paprika)
Furthermore, our clinic is considering support for expanding the range of animal behaviors and equipment for monitoring daily health conditions. We aim to create an environment where animals can live more naturally, while also improving the quality of health management and connecting the knowledge gained from behavioral medicine to this activity.
◆ About "Yorisoi Life with"
Led by Shiki no Mori Animal Clinic, this project aims to build better relationships between animals and people from the perspective of animal welfare. Utilizing knowledge from animal medicine, it develops activities that connect to the future of animals through education and dissemination.
Details >> Yorisoi Life with - What we can do for animals living in human society and children who will bear the future (Shiki no Mori Animal Clinic)
◆ About Chiba Zoological Park
Chiba Zoological Park is a zoo that emphasizes "species conservation" and "education/environmental education."
They focus on learning and disseminating information through animals, and will leverage their knowledge and communication capabilities for collaboration.
◆ About Shiki no Mori Animal Clinic Medical Skincare Center
Shiki no Mori Animal Clinic utilizes its expertise in animal medicine to connect animal welfare with society. Moving forward, it will continue to plan and supervise from a medical perspective, disseminating information to deepen understanding of animal life and ecology.
【Company Information】
Company Name: Shiki no Mori Animal Clinic Medical Skincare Center
Company Address: 1-179 Shin'eicho, Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture 470-1154
Director: Veterinarian Masato Hirakawa
Phone Number (Representative): 0562-85-2215
Website URL: https://inu-neko-byoki.com/
Business Description: Operation of an animal hospital specializing in dog skin diseases.