Yesterday – When Lions Jumped Through Hoops: Animal Shows

The zoo dates back to 1914, when the Japanese controlled Taiwan. Former director of the zoo Chen Baozhong (陳寶忠) says that the Japanese government bought a private zoo that was located on Yuanshan, in the area where today the Grand Hotel is located nearby. On the day of its formal opening, there were 148 animals from 70 species. On Sundays up to 800 people would visit, out of a population of just 170,000 people in Taipei, and the zoo was a lively, busy place. During World War II, as allied air raids became more frequent, many animals were put down to prevent accidental escape and potential injury to the local human population. After the war, the zoo was a dying shadow of its former self.

With few resources, the number of individual animals and species withered. The zoo launched numerous animal shows to attract more visitors: monkeys dressed as humans and eating a Western meal, chimpanzees riding bicycles, lions jumping through flaming hoops, and parrots pulling or sitting in carts. This was an era of poverty, scarcity, and limited leisure and entertainment distractions, and the shows brought local citizens much surprise and happiness. In 1961, Taipei Zoo administration began cooperating with zoos in Japan and further afield, engaging in exchanges, gift presentations, and purchases, and the zoo began to recover its dynamism.

Space was limited in Yuanshan, making expansion problematic, and so the decision was made to move to a new spot in Muzha (木柵). The move, which happened in 1986, was a big event, and hundreds of thousands lined the streets to cheer the movers on their way. The 20 special vehicles carrying the animals were met with flags and city banners all along the route, and the grand spectacle was even covered in the international media. The move took place during the summer holidays, and to prevent the animals from suffering heat stroke or other problems large quantities of ice were piled on top of the vehicles.

Today – A Rainforest Debuts, Bringing Visitors a Glimpse of the Amazon

With the move to Muzha, the zoo was recreated as a leisure facility of natural landscaping and distinctive ecology. The animals were provided with living environments as close as possible to their natural habitat, which helped visitors better understand them as well. Today the zoo is home to over 3,000 animals, from 457 species. Walk through the entrance gate, open your map, begin strolling, and you'll be guided to a sequence of 8 main outdoor exhibition areas: Children's Zoo, Formosan Animal Area, Asian Tropical Rainforest Area, Desert Animal Area, Australian Animal Area, African Animal Area, Bird World, and Temperate Zone Animal Area. There are also six indoor display halls: the Insectarium, Koala House, Giant Panda House, Amphibian and Reptile House, Penguin House, and Tropical Rainforest House. The Tropical Rainforest House is expected to open two years later.

In keeping with increasingly sophisticated global practices, the zoo's policy in regard to species collection and animal display has become ever more advanced. The Nocturnal Animal House has now become part of the zoo's history, replaced with the Tropical Rainforest House. For those who cannot wait to look through this window into the ecology of the Amazon rainforest, Director Chin Shihchien (金仕謙) says, “After the indoor rainforest pavilion is opened as expected in 2016, the full range of ecological habitats near the equator will be on display. A lush world of plant life that grows in hot and humid tropical rainforest environments will be on show in the facility, which will be 24 meters high. Using the Taiwan pangolin as our model, we're further strengthening the zoo's biological-diversity conservation and our educational functions.”

A Cavalcade of Animals

Over the last 100 years the zoo has given unexpected birth to many “animal stars” which have been a topic of everyday conversation, and have become a part of the public's collective memory. In the zoo's early years the elephant Miss Ma (瑪小姐) and the orangutan Ichirokun (一郎君) were the most popular residents. In the postwar period the cow elephant Malan (馬蘭) was brought in, and “married” to the bull Asian elephant Lin Wang (林旺). Lin Wang became a treasure for both park and city, his stardom lasting half a century.

Following Lin Wang, the gorilla Bao Bao (寶寶) stepped into the spotlight. Then it was cute koalas, after that king penguins. Then Tuan Tuan (團團) and Yuan Yuan (圓圓) the giant pandas arrived on the Taiwan scene, setting off stargazing fever of an intensity long unseen. Excitement soared even higher with the arrival of their beloved baby, Yuan Zai (圓仔).

Just how cute is Yuan Zai? According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there have been around 800 overseas media reports on Yuan Zai by March, 2014. In the past, the average number of visitors to the zoo was about 3 million annually; with Yuan Zai now on the scene, this year from January through March the number surpassed 1.1 million, an increase of 20~30% compared to the same period in previous years. The Yuan Zai whirlwind seems unstoppable.

Tomorrow – The Campaign for Conservation

In recent years, the zoo has been actively engaged in the rescue of protected, rare, and endangered species. Pointing to the zoo's Formosan sika deer, Chin says, “They had already been extinct in the wild once. It is the zoo's responsibility to try to conserve our native heritage by raising these in captivity.” Formosan sika deer and serow populations have plummeted, and the species are still facing crisis in the wild. The Formosan serow is endemic to the island, and after years of effort at the zoo, the species has made a recovery. It's extremely territorial, and one of its most intriguing attributes is that it does not mark out its territory with excreta as do various other animals; instead, it mark objects with its infra-orbital glands.

Have you seen director Ang Lee's award-winning film Life of Pi? In it you saw the Formosan black bear Black Sugar (黑糖). Under its caretakers' careful and caring training, Black Sugar has become a pro at catching food with its hands, and when it stands up its unique markings, a large white-fur V across its chest and white scarf-like ear markings, are clearly visible. Because of all its training, Black Sugar suffered no stage fright when filmed for Life of Pi. According to Chin, “Because of over-exploitation of our forests, Taiwan's black bear population is estimated to be just 200 or so. Prospects for the restoration of its environment are even bleaker than for the giant panda's habitat. Our goal is thus to work with other institutions in black bear captive breeding and reproduction.”

For the foreign visitor, a visit to the Taipei Zoo is almost compulsory. Located right in the city, transportation is convenient, and the entrance fee is just NT$60, significantly lower zoos in other countries. The Taipei Zoo story is now 100 years old and still evolving, and each animal has its own unique tale to tell. In addition to Yuan Zai, the many other Taiwan-endemic and protected residents are well worth a visit–and are waiting to welcome you.

Information

Taipei Zoo 臺北市立動物園

Add: 30, Sec. 2, Xinguang Rd. (新光路2段30號)

Tel: (02)2938-2300

Opening Hours: Daily year-round 09:00~17:00 (no entry after 16:00, Closed only on Chinese New Years Eve )

Website: newweb.zoo.gov.tw

Entrance Fee: Adults NT$60; preferential admission/groups NT$30