Tennoji Zoo

Tennoji Zoo opened in Taisho 4 (1915) and has a long history spanning more than 110 years.Spanning approximately 11 hectares, the zoo is home to about 1,000 animals representing roughly 170 species, including lions, chimpanzees, and polar bears, as well as the drill—a species with a distinctive jet-black face that can only be seen at Tennoji Zoo in Japan.The zoo features “ecological exhibits” that recreate the animals’ natural habitats as closely as possible to showcase their behavior, including the Reptile Ecology Pavilion (AIFER), home to the near-threatened Japanese pond turtle, and“Penguin Park & Sea Lion Wharf,” where visitors can observe penguins and sea lions swimming freely in a marine landscape, and “Bird World,” where visitors can observe up close the ecology of birds adapted to diverse environments. Visitors can encounter a wide variety of animals right in the heart of the city.