Adventure World is an amusement park with a zoo and public aquarium located in the town of Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by Hours Co., Ltd. (AWS), an affiliate of Marusue Co., Ltd. headquartered in Matsubara, Osaka Prefecture. The park opened on April 22, 1978, as Nanki Shirahama World Safari.
Overview Operating under the motto of "contact between humans, animals, and nature", Adventure World consists of a zoo, aquarium, and an amusement park. The park's many facilities include a giant panda breeding exhibition and dolphin and sea lion shows. The park also hosts various animal-themed restaurants and cafes, as well as academic tours.
In January 2023, two lions at Adventure World died of COVID-19 after contact with an infected employee. A further eight lions became infected, but recovered.
Zoo The Adventure World zoo is divided into several different areas and attractions:
Safari World – Carnivore Zone, Herbivore Zone Panda Love – Giant panda exhibition facility Breeding Center – Giant panda breeding facility Wanwan Garden – Dogs ('Wanwan' is a Japanese onomatopoeia for a dogs bark) Fureai Square – Pygmy hippopotamuses, capybaras, small monkeys, chimpanzees, birds such as parakeets, etc. Flamingo Square – Flamingos and red pandas Elephant Fureai Square – Asian elephants Horse Camp – Horses and birds of prey
Giant Panda Conservation
Adventure World operates as the Japanese branch of the Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base in Chengdu, China.日本一パンダが生まれるアドベンチャーワールドに「専門家はいらない」。飼育員のチームワーク術 - サイボウズ式（2012年11月9日） The giant panda breeding research project had successfully bred 17 giant pandas by September 2018, the highest number in the world both in terms of live births and mature offspring maintained outside of mainland China. As of September 12, 2018, Adventure World was home to six of the ten captive pandas in Japan; Ueno Zoo had three, and Kobe Oji Zoo had one.
Panda Love, the park's panda center, provides an open area where pandas can roam at will. All the giant pandas currently in captivity, including offspring, are owned by the Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base.
The giant pandas at the park are a massive tourism attraction for Shirahama, known colloquially as 'The Panda Town'.
On July 11, 2019, The Wakayama Prefectural Police named Saihama, one of the park's giant pandas, the "Traffic Safety Wakayama Dream Ambassador" (交通安全和歌山夢大使) to raise awareness for road traffic safety. Saihama appeared in posters and promotional products to raise awareness for traffic safety. In July 2022, as part of the "Wakayama Summer Traffic Safety Movement", Ayahama became the new mascot of the campaign.
All pandas born at the research base have names that carry the suffix (e.g., Rauhin). Eimei fathered 14 pandas, except for the 1st (Yoshihama), and the 6th panda, who died shortly after birth. Eimei gave birth to Ranbao (male) in 2002 at the Lanzhou Zoo in China via artificial insemination from Ran and Shulan (twin sisters born from Umeume), but he died on August 30, 2012. +Giant pandas currently at Adventure WorldNameSexDate of birthBirthplaceNotesRauhin/Liangbang (らうひん/良浜)FemaleSeptember 6, 2000 (age 24)Adventure WorldFather: Haran, mother: Meimei; The first giant panda born in Japan in twelve years.Yuihin/Jiebang (ゆいひん/結浜)FemaleSeptember 18, 2016 (age 7)Adventure WorldFather: Eimei, mother: RauhinSaihin/Caibang (さいひん/彩浜)FemaleAugust 14, 2018 (age 5)Adventure WorldFather: Eimei, mother: Rauhin; had a stillborn twin和歌山の赤ちゃんパンダ授乳確認 双子の1頭は死産 日刊スポーツ2018年8月16日閲覧赤ちゃんパンダ授乳2回確認 和歌山・アドベンチャーワールド 産経新聞2018年8月18日閲覧Fuhin/Fengbang (ふうひん/楓浜)FemaleNovember 22, 2020 (age 4)Adventure WorldFather: Eimei, mother: Rauhin; originally thought to be male和歌山パンダの赤ちゃん 性別は「雌」でした アドベンチャーワールドが発表 YAHOO!JAPANニュース2020年12月22日閲覧 +Giant pandas previously in captivityNameSexDate of birthBirthplaceEntry dateDeparture Destination and DateNotesShinshin (シンシン/辰辰)Male - -September 19, 1988Returned to China January 10, 1989 -Keikei (ケイケイ/慶慶)Female - -September 19, 1988Returned to China January 10, 1989 -Youhin/Rongbang† (ようひん/蓉浜)FemaleSeptember 4, 1992Chengdu ZooSeptember 4, 1992 -Died July 17, 1997 (age 4), Adventure WorldEimei/Yong Ming (えいめい/永明)MaleSeptember 14, 1992 (age 31)Beijing ZooSeptember 6, 1994Chengdu Zoo, February 22, 2023 -Meimei† (めいめい/梅梅)FemaleAugust 31, 1994Chengdu Okumaneko Breeding Research BaseJuly 7, 2000 -Died October 15, 2008 at 5:29 (age 14)Yuhin/Xiongbang (ゆうひん/雄浜)MaleDecember 17, 2001 (age 22)Adventure World -Chengdu Okumaneko Breeding Research Base, June 21, 2004Father: Eimei, mother: MeiMeiRyuhin/Longbang (りゅうひん/隆浜)MaleSeptember 8, 2003 (age 20)Adventure World -Chengdu Zoo, October 27, 2007; moved to Huai An Zoo from 2016 to 2020Father: Eimei, mother: MeiMei; twins with ShuhinShuhin/Qiubang (しゅうひん/秋浜)MaleSeptember 8, 2003 (age 20)Adventure World -Chengdu Zoo, October 27, 2007; moved to Shenzhen Zoo Father: Eimei, mother: MeiMei; twins with RyuhinKouhin/Xinbang (こうひん/幸浜)MaleAugust 23, 2005 (age 18)Adventure World -Chengdu Zoo, March 15, 2010Father: Eimei, mother: Male; twins with unnamed pandaUnnamed†MaleAugust 24, 2005Adventure World - -Died August 25, 2005 due to being underweight (66g); twins with KouhinAihin/Aibang (あいひん/愛浜)FemaleDecember 23, 2006 (age 17)Adventure World -Chengdu Zoo, December 14, 2012Father: Eimei, mother: MeiMei; twins with MeihinMeihin/Mingbang (めいひん/明浜)MaleDecember 23, 2006 (age 17)Adventure World -Chengdu Zoo, December 14, 2012; subsequently moved to Ryushu Zoo in 2014柳州動物園に成都パンダがやって来ました——明浜の運動場初体験 成都ジャイアントパンダ繁殖研究基金会（2014-04-08）Father: Eimei, mother: MeiMei; twins with AihinMeihin/Meibang (めいひん/梅浜)FemaleSeptember 13, 2008 (age 15)Adventure World -Chengdu Zoo, February 26, 2013Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin; twins with Eihin; first pandas to be born in captivity for three generationsEihin/Yongbang (えいひん/永浜)MaleSeptember 13, 2008 (age 15)Adventure World -Chengdu Zoo, February 26, 2013Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin; twins with Meihin; first pandas to be born in captivity for three generationsKaihin/Haibang (かいひん/海浜)MaleAugust 11, 2010 (age 13)Adventure World -Chengdu Zoo, June 5, 2017Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin; twins with YouhinYouhin/Yangbang (ようひん/陽浜)FemaleAugust 11, 2010 (age 13)Adventure World -Chengdu Zoo, June 5, 2017Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin; twins with KaihinYuhin/Youbang (ゆうひん/優浜)FemaleAugust 10, 2012 (age 11)Adventure World -Chengdu Zoo, June 5, 2017Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin; had a stillborn twinOuhin/Yingbang (おうひん/桜浜)FemaleDecember 2, 2014 (age 9)Adventure World -Return to China, February 2023Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin; twin sister of TouhinTouhin/Taobang (とうひん/桃浜)FemaleDecember 2, 2014 (age 10)Adventure World -Return to China, February 2023Father: Eimei, mother: Rauhin; twin sister of Ouhin (In order of birth, regardless of transfer date)
In March 2011, Wakayama Prefecture Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka gave the title of Wakayama Prefecture Honore to three pandas: Eimei, Rauhan, and Meimei.
This followed the Tama Stationmaster at Kishi Station on the Wakayama Electric Railway Kishigawa Line, and acted as a recognition and tribute to the nationwide dissemination of the charm of Wakayama Prefecture by increasing the number of panda families.「パンダにナイトの称号 たま駅長に続き第2号 和歌山県」 asahi.com（朝日新聞）2011年3月6日。（2011年3月7日のアーカイブ）
Aquarium
Attractions Sea Animal Museum – Polar bears, penguins and seal exhibitions in an indoor aquarium. Penguin Kingdom – Penguins and sea otters. Big Ocean – Dolphin and whale shows. Marine Wave – Contact events with dolphins. Animal Land – Sea lion and otter shows.
Marine Live & Animal Action The dolphin and whale show, called "Marine Live", is held in a pool with a tank capacity of . The tank has a width of , a length of , and a depth of .【「LOVES」水のステージ】 アドベンチャーワールド公式フェイスブック The show features an original soundtrack, sold within the park. A sea lion show is also held under the name "Animal Action".
Polar bears On October 20, 2009, Adventure World announced the arrival of a female polar bear cub named Mirai, born on October 13. Mirai died on May 16, 2014.
In 2013, a male polar bear cub was born. Following the death of a male polar bear from liver cancer in 2014, it was decided to borrow the male polar bear Gogo from Tennōji Zoo in March 2015.赤ちゃん同じ日に誕生 ホッキョクグマとペンギン AGARA紀伊民報 2009年10月23日
Penguins
Eight species of penguins are exhibited, including (emperor penguins, king penguins, gentoo penguins, Adélie penguins, chinstrap penguins, rockhopper penguins, cape penguins, and fairy penguins).
Approximately 470 birds have been bred, which is one of the largest amounts in the world. In particular, the breeding of emperor penguins has been successful.「中国初 コウテイペンギンの繁殖に成功=大連の動物園」（毎日中国経済）2010年11月26日。 On October 1, 2019, the facility hatched its 13th emperor penguin chick.2013年10月17日、エンペラーペンギンの赤ちゃんが誕生しました！
Killer whales
The killer whale show at Adventure World was once famous but ceased after the death of the last killer whale in 2005.
Adventure World's first killer whale, Kianu (female, body length , weight 3 t), was brought from Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in California five days before the opening of the amusement park in 1978.谷口一久・大出庸子『いつか、オルカ』アワーズ 2007年 ISBN 978-4-9903598-1-2 Some time afterwards, only Goro (a male brought from Taiji, Wakayama, in 1985) remained, but fell ill on 18 January 2005 and died on March 21 at 9:20 pm. Other orcas, including Benkei, Ushiwaka, Ruka, and Ai, were also bred intermittently. Four eggs and sets of sperm from Ruka, Goro, Ran, and Kyu, collected before they died, have been preserved in preparation for future artificial insemination.
Play Zone (Amusement Park) Adventure World also features an Amusement Park section called 'Play Zone'. The area features a number of attractions, including:
Ocean View Ferris Wheel Big Adventure Rollercoaster Merry-Go-Round Space Fighter Highway Cart (Go-Karts) Animal Fantasy (Teacups) Wakuwaku Kids Jungle (Jungle gym)
The park features both indoor and outdoor attractions.
Zoological Academy An educational facility for the training of zookeepers connected to the park opened in 2000. Located on the Adventure World site, it is the only facility in Japan where trainees receive specialised daily animal training in the park from keepers.
The Academy offers a two-year wildlife management programme and a one-year wildlife short-term programme. Programmes also include basic veterinary medicine, biology, and zoology. Classes are also offered in English, business, hospitality, and Zoo management. In the final year, trainees conduct research on an animal within the park.
The academy works closely with the AWS Zoological Academy in the United States and Australia. Graduates are active in animal breeding sites all over Japan.
See also Giant pandas around the world List of giant pandas
References
External links Official Site Official Site