The Least Useful Guide to Fukuoka

I went to the Fukuoka zoo again to pick up a camera cover I lost at my last visit. The zoo people were so kind as to find it in the 20 ha-land (including the adjoining botanic garden) and phone me to tell that they would keep it until I turn up.

To reward their customer loyalty, which I totally didn’t expect from them , I decided to be an animal supporter by donating JPY1000.

 “Animal supporter at Fukuoka Zoo” became my third title after “grumpy housewife” and “unsuccessful learner of English.”

In fact (apart from grumpy housewife and unsuccessful learner, which require experience and time), everyone can be animal supporter by paying JPY1, 000 per year. No identification or no photograph is needed. Of course your fingerprint will not be taken. You will not be asked why you visit there, too.

Instead, you can get one-year free admission in exchange for your donation.

This time, I first went to “Kodomo Dobutsu-en (Children’s  Zoo)” where you can touch and get even closer to goats,

sheeps,

and  other“safer (in many ways)” animals, even if you are physically no longer categorised as a child.

I was looking forward to playing with lovely creatures. But, unfortunately, they were in their meal time and paid no attention to an empty-handed middle-aged woman.

Even when I got a bunch of fresh vegetable (JPY 100),

they ignored me.

Only a few guinea pigs that seemed to prefer fresher food to hay approached me.

Next, I went to the hippo pool.

The hippo was much huger than my imagination and her skin was saggier despite her sporty lifestyle—she is swimming rather fast nearly all day. No wonder. She is almost as old as me.

After this picture was taken, she splashed her poo all around, but not at me. How kind of you!

The tiger was enjoying a nap, as always.

Don’t you think this owl looks like a cat?

As the temperature dropped to 4 Celsius, the hikikomori orang-utan was slipping on a gown.

Odd one out?

Red pandas were as cute as always.

The otters were so active. Look at the streamline shape when they swim.

And I enjoyed the beauty of a ruined garden again.

In fact, the park intentionally leave the trees and shrubs untouched to save natural ecosystem, but you are free to liken the site to an abandoned estate and enjoy playing a make-believe game of a ruined aristocrat.