Zoos struggling to procure feed for grass-eating animals

Not even anything from natural Fukushima can be given to those animals?

Tobe Zoological Park in Tobe, Ehime Prefecture, was unable to obtain Bermuda grass, used as the main feed for camels and kangaroos, from November through January this year.

I'm not sure I can necessarily follow why feed grasses are not grown domestically.

I understand that some large sports arenas in Japan, including the Japan National Stadium, has been planted with several varietals of Bermuda grass for years. Ditto for gold courses. Ideal conditions in some areas.

Or did zoos find it cheaper to buy imports?

Or is this just a 'how inflation is making life more difficult for everyone, even animals' kind of piece?

Open air zoos would be a great start.

Oops! My earlier comment (07:31 am JST), 2nd para, 2nd sent . . . please substitute "golf course" for "gold course." Thank you!

Disgusting. Typical Japanese businesses, not really interested in conservation but seeing animals strictly as an investment. This sums up their viewpoint, lack of contingency planning and overall priorities for care: “cumbersome and low in unit price."

When animal ‘assets’ are no longer profitable, they are to be sold off and scrapped for cash or, worst of all, abandoned. Case in point: Inubozaki Marine Park in Choshi city, in Chiba Prefecture, Japan:

Apr 2020- https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/25406/20200421/world-loneliest-dolphin-honey-dies-being-abandoned-japanese-aquarium.htm

In Jan 2018, the park closed and never re-opened. Along with Honey, 46 penguins and 100’s of fish& reptiles were left stranded in the park. Paid employees continued to feed the animals at subsistence level, but efforts to clean the tanks and give the animals proper care dissipated, leaving Honey and the others in complete isolation. Efforts to move the animals to a better facility never developed.” -

https://savedolphins.eii.org/news/honey-the-dolphin-dies-alone-in-japan-park

- “The owners of the park disappeared, reportedly in hiding from creditors. Without the owners’ permission, the Chiba government authorities refused to take any action for the animals. Local Japanese activists were able to get some photos of Honey in her dirty tank, but they and international organizations were unable to convince Chiba health authorities to step in and seize the animals to transfer them to a better facility.” -

Heartbreaking. Japan can do much better for those we’ve chosen to shepherd here. Live up to your responsibilities and do not abandon the helpless.

Bring back the animals to the nature.

In some parcs, not even zoos, I saw elephants, bears, just surrounded by cement. It was a pity

I love how they are blaming it on the war in Ukraine and not the devaluation of the yen and subsequent price gouging, which has led to exorbitant import costs. It says flat out in the article -- importing grass is simply not as profitable. Doesn't sound so much like a war problem to me.

absolutely no need if they use kudzu

Kudzu - Wikipedia

So I can't bring an apple through customs at Narita. But they import hay. Nope, no invasive insects could possibly get into the country that way, especially after customs officers sift through thousands of bales of hay by hand...

Respect animals, close all zoos.

 hay imports

now I've heard everything! or should that be: herd everything? carbon footprint much?

No hay? Then give them cake! An exceedingly good feed for all.

By cake, I was not referring to that disgusting pellet shaped "cow cake", I mean proper cake. French fancies, Viennese whirls, Angel slices or even a Cherry bakewell. The animals and keepers could all enjoy.