First in a Kyushu Zoo! Hirakawa Zoological Park Introduces License-Free Short-Distance Mobility 'WHILL' Service

Kagoshima City Hirakawa Zoological Park (Location: Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, Director: Akira Fukumori, hereinafter 'Hirakawa Zoo') announced the launch of a mobility service using the license-free short-distance mobility vehicle WHILL, developed by WHILL Inc. (hereinafter 'WHILL Inc.'). As population aging and societal diversification accelerate, this is part of an initiative to create an accessible environment where anyone, regardless of age or gender, can comfortably tour the expansive grounds with elevation changes while remaining considerate of the animals and the global environment. Kagoshima Toyota Motor Corporation (hereinafter 'Kagoshima Toyota'), which handles WHILL locally, is cooperating with regular inspections to ensure customers can use WHILL safely at all times. The introduction of this service is the first of its kind for a zoological park in the Kyushu region (Note 1).

In Japan, the aging population is accelerating, with the domestic population aged 65 and over approaching 30% of the total population (Note 2). Along with the growing understanding of social diversification and diversity, 'reasonable accommodation' (Note 3) became mandatory in April 2024. Recently, with strong inbound tourism demand (Note 4), there is growing social momentum to develop environments that welcome and entertain everyone.

Hirakawa Zoo, known for its attractive tropical Kagoshima atmosphere, is working to create a 'human and animal-friendly zoological park'. To allow animals to live vibrantly, expansive grounds mimicking natural terrain are essential. On the other hand, there was a challenge that it was difficult for those who are uneasy about physical strength or long-distance walking, temporarily injured, or elderly to explore every corner of the park. Given this background, WHILL was introduced this time as part of an accessibility improvement measure to prepare an environment where everyone can comfortably stroll through the park.

The adopted models are the premium model 'WHILL Model C2', which combines off-road capabilities backed by advanced technologies such as omni-wheels and high-output motors, with a tight turning radius allowing it to spin on the spot using its rear wheels as an axis; and the scooter-type high-performance model 'WHILL Model R', which can turn on the spot but offers a driving sensation similar to cars and bicycles. Because they are electric, they run eco-friendly and quietly, and can handle inclines of up to 10 degrees.